New York Islanders place defenseman Robert Bortuzzo on injured reserve with lower-body injury

The Islanders ended up losing in overtime, 5-4, marking the team’s third loss in their last four games.

The injury to Bortuzzo could not come at a worse time for New York, as they are already light on the blueline with Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock on long-term injured reserve. Bortuzzo was acquired by the Isles from the Blues via trade earlier last month to help replace Pulock.

Bortuzzo was playing in his 11th game with the Islanders on Tuesday night. In 15 games this season, the Thunder Bay native had yet to register a point.

Also on Wednesday, the Islanders called up goaltender Ken Appleby from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, on emergency basis. This is the second time in a week Appleby has been with New York, as he was previously backing up Ilya Sorokin while Semyon Varlamov was out with an undisclosed injury.

Varlamov was on the bench during the last two games. It is unclear if there is something new ailing the veteran netminder, or if this is a continuation of the previous injury the he was suffering from.

Sorokin is expected to keep playing while Varlamov is on the shelf, though Appleby has some NHL experience. That came in the 2017-18 season, when he made three appearances with the New Jersey Devils.

The Islanders (17-10-10) are set to take on the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night. They are currently third in the Metropolitan Division, seven points back of the first-place New York Rangers.