New York Islanders top-line forward Kyle Okposo is out with a detached retina and will likely be sidelined for 6-8 weeks, if not longer.
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It was announced last Monday by head coach John Capuano that Okposo was injured and will be out possibly as long as two months, but the nature of the injury was undisclosed. ESPN reports that Okposo is suffering from a detached retina in one of his eyes.
"I kind of had an idea before the break, but it definitely comes as a shock," Capuano told reporters last Monday. "Kyle's play is dictating how we go and the pace we play with."
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Okposo leads the Islanders this season with 30 assists and is second on the team behind captain and All-Star John Tavares with 44 points. His 14 goals rank third on New York while his 16 power play points are second.
Okposo played in 44 games this season for the Islanders, averaging a point per game and he even scored four tallies against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 16 before playing three days later against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The winger practiced with the team before the All-Star break on Jan. 20, but hasn't been able to participate since then.
The Islanders are 32-16-1 for 65 points to rank first in the Metropolitan Division this season, but they've dropped two of three games without Okposo in the lineup, including two straight defeats to the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.
The Pittsburgh Penguins (28-14-8, 64 points) are one point behind New York.
The Islanders are looking to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2012-13 lockout-shortened season and for the first time in an 82-game slate since 2006-07.
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