Injuries continue to deplete Islanders’ defense

Already without defensemen Dennis Seidenberg (jaw) and Ryan Pulock (lower body), the Islanders lost Adam Pelech to an upper-body injury during Monday’s 2-1 overtime win over Calgary in Brooklyn.

Coach Jack Capuano said the injury wasn’t serious, but it still prevented Pelech from coming back into the game after being crushed into the boards.

“The good news is there’s nothing seriously wrong,” Capuano said. “Between periods he tried to come back out. It just was a little bit too sore to move like he needed to move.”

Pelech’s absence forced Nick Leddy to play 26:02, but the Isles were able to overcome the situation.

“We got it done with five [defensemen],” Capuano said.

Even down a defenseman, the team’s main issue still may have been on offense, with John Tavares scoring the lone goal by a forward. It was his first tally in 10 games.

Still, Capuano said he intended to stick with the same lines heading into Wednesday’s game against the Penguins, with Tavares playing with Josh Bailey and rookie Anthony Beau- villier, while Andrew Ladd stays on the fourth line.

“I think the chemistry on the lines has been pretty good,” Capuano said. “I don’t know [if it helps] to change. Johnny’s line has done pretty well in the last two or three games.”

But one goal in regulation almost certainly won’t be enough with the Penguins in town.

“We’re gonna have to find some offense,” Capuano said. “When you play Pitts- burgh, they can make you look silly.”

Ryan Strome was a healthy scratch again against the Flames, another sign of how far he has fallen from two years ago, when he had 17 goals and 33 assists in his first full season in the league.

“I thought I had a couple of good games in a row there,” said Strome, who also didn’t play in the Isles previous game in San Jose. “But you’ve got to find con- sistency every game. Obviously, right now I guess I’m the odd man out. I don’t really have the answers, so I don’t really know what to say. Hopefully I can help out when I get the opportunity.”

Capuano had a simple explanation for why Strome was sitting.

“He’s an offensive guy for us that hasn’t produced offensively,” Capuano said of Strome, who has two goals. “He’s going to get back in there.”