Islanders' Nikolay Kulemin: Facing six-month absence

Kulemin (upper body) underwent surgery Monday and will be sidelined for the next six months.

Kulemin suffered the injury when he took a big hit from Eric Gryba on Nov. 7 against the Oilers and has already missed two games. The fourth-year Islander has been ruled out for the remainder of the regular season, but could return if the Isles make a deep postseason run.