BOSTON — Alexander Romanov won’t play when the Islanders start their three-game road trip against the Bruins on Tuesday, but the defenseman is hopeful to return by the end of the swing through Carolina and Washington.
“I don’t know when,” Romanov said after returning to practice Monday in a red noncontact jersey. “But I’m planning to play some games [on the trip].”
The noncontact jersey Romanov wore was a bit of a misnomer; for all intents and purposes, he was a full participant, including blocking shots and initiating some contact.
He said afterward that the jersey means his teammates “can’t have contact with me. I can if I want to, if I feel good.”
Romanov has missed the past four games with an upper-body injury and was moved to injured reserve earlier this week to clear a roster spot. Since the injury occurred on Oct. 16, the mandatory weeklong period before a player can come off IR has already passed.
“It depends how I’m gonna feel,” Romanov said. “Still a little sore, but getting better every day.”
When Romanov comes off IR, the Islanders will need to send someone — likely Marshall Warren — to Bridgeport to keep their roster at 23 men.
Warren, a Long Island native, impressed on Saturday in his NHL debut, notching two assists against the Flyers.
“So exciting,” Romanov said of returning to practice. “I didn’t chill all this time. I worked out, working out [on the] bike. Lots of biking. I mean, every day. And I was skating. It’s my third skate [today]. So I’m so excited and I hope I’ll play soon.”
After missing Bridgeport’s past two games, top prospect Cal Ritchie was deemed day to day with a lower-body injury. Ritchie also exited the last Islanders preseason game with a lower-body injury; it’s not known whether this is related.
Max Shabanov (upper body) did not practice and did not travel to Boston with the Islanders.
Scott Mayfield missed practice due to maintenance. Coach Patrick Roy said he is expected to play on Tuesday.
Roy said the Islanders would decide Tuesday morning whether Warren would get a second game or Adam Boqvist would come back into the lineup. Warren rotated in with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock during practice while Boqvist partnered Matthew Schaefer, taking Mayfield’s role with the latter watching from the balcony.
