On Monday, Mariusz Czerkawski appeared headed for the press box as a healthy scratch after meeting with Islanders coach Steve Stirling. The two spoke about Czerkawski’s poor play away from the puck, and how despite his team-leading 11 goals, he would likely be replaced last night against the Capitals by one of two AHL recalls.
Mattias Weinhandl took Czerkawski’s place on right wing next to Alexei Yashin and Oleg Kvasha against Washington, while Czerkawski’s ever-complicating status was not known at press time. He was missing from yesterday morning’s skate, with Shawn Bates, as the two were said to have been meeting with the team doctor.
While Bates was seeing Dr. Elliott Pellman about a strep throat, team officials confirmed that Czerkawski was being checked for an irregular heartbeat. Interesting, how a day earlier his heart was in question, but yesterday it was confirmed that there actually may be something wrong with his ticker.
“One’s sick,” Stirling said, “and one needed a checkup.”
The coach would not say if either would be in the lineup last night, only that “it’s not safe to say” that because they didn’t skate in the morning they would be scratched.
Stirling was going to sit two players to accommodate Weinhandl and Jeff Hamilton, and said only he would make his decision right before game time.
“No easy task,” he said.
Hamilton was slated to play last night on a line with Michael Peca and Mark Parrish, two players who also deserve a trip to the press box after struggling of late. Hamilton was named the AHL Player of the Week and came up with 17 goals in 20 games on the farm.
“Hamilton’s tearing it up,” Stirling said before comparing him to Brett Hull for his scoring touch around the net.
Both Weinhandl and Hamilton were also expected to see time on the power play, which has been dreadful with one goal (1-for-29) in eight games.
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Isles prospects Bruno Gervais and Jeremy Colliton have been selected to attend Team Canada’s 2004 World Junior Championship camp, while it has not yet been decided if Sean Bergenheim will accept the spot left for him on Team Finland’s roster . . . With two goals in four games going into last night, the Isles tied the club record for fewest goals in that span, which they originally set during the maiden 1972 season.
