Islanders Lose Romanov for Six to Eight Months With Torn ACL

The New York Islanders have lost one of their most important defensemen for the season. Alexander Romanov, 26, will miss six to eight months after tearing the ACL in his right knee, the team announced on Wednesday. The top-four blue-liner was hurt in a collision with Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad during Tuesday's 5-2 loss, and the worst fears were confirmed by scans. Romanov had been off to a strong start, posting a plus-2 rating through three games while anchoring a key pairing. His combination of physicality and steady two-way play made him one of the Islanders' most dependable defensemen, and his absence leaves a hole that cannot be filled by one player alone. The timeline means he could miss the entire regular season. The injury is a cruel early-season blow for a team with playoff ambitions, and it forces the Islanders to look inward for solutions on the blue line — or toward the trade market. For Romanov, the focus now shifts to surgery and the long road back from one of the most feared injuries in the sport.