Isles' Travis Hamonic sits vs. Jackets with lower-body injury

UNIONDALE, N.Y. --New York Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic sat out the team's final regular-season game at Nassau Coliseum against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday night with a lower-body injury.

Hamonic suffered the injury in the first period of Friday's 3-1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins and was seen limping as he arrived at the arena Saturday morning.

Before the game, Isles coach Jack Capuano provided no update on Hamonic's status, but said the 24-year-old blueliner would be further evaluated.

Calvin de Haan, who has been a healthy scratch for six straight games, drew into the lineup in place of Hamonic.

It is not immediately clear whether Hamonic will be available to play when the team opens its first-round playoff series against the Washington Capitals next week. Should he miss any significant time, it would be a costly blow to the team's back end.

Hamonic has five goals and 33 points in 71 games this season for the Islanders, and he leads the team in average ice time (21:47).

"Well, he's one of our top defensemen," fellow defenseman Johnny Boychuk said. "He's a good shutdown D, he jumps up in the rush when he has the chance. He's a good player, and hopefully he'll be fine. Going forward we're going to need him. If he is going to be playing, that'll be awesome. If he's not, that will be a loss for our team. We have guys that have to step up and play well and not hold anything back."

The Islanders lost to the Blue Jackets 5-4 in a shootout, giving Washington home-ice advantage in next week's opening round.