Islanders' Scott Perunovich: Stuck in press box

Perunovich was scratched for the eighth straight game in Friday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Oilers.

Perunovich played nine straight games and earned three assists after being traded to the Islanders from the Blues in late January. However, the Islanders' defense corps has gotten healthier since then -- only Adam Boqvist (upper body) is currently dealing with an injury. That still leaves eight healthy blueliners available, and it appears Perunovich is on the bottom rung of the ladder, with Scott Mayfield getting the first chance to replace Boqvist. Perunovich has nine points, 18 shots on net, 33 blocked shots and a minus-2 rating in 33 appearances this season. There's no guarantee he will play regularly down the final stretch.