Why Islanders can’t find regular spot for healthy Thomas Hickey

Players aren’t supposed to lose lineup spots because of injury, but sometimes that’s just the way it goes.

At least, that’s what has happened with Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey, who went from a top-four stalwart to now having to battle to get back in after missing 10 weeks following a concussion suffered on Dec. 17.

Hickey has been scratched for two straight following his return Tuesday. As coach Barry Trotz made clear, it wasn’t just because he wanted to ease him back into the lineup, but because the defensive corps had played so well in his absence.

“Our defense sort of solidified with Hicks, for the most part, when he was gone,” Trotz said after Friday’s 3-1 loss to the Capitals. “The pairs seem to work for us. So he has to battle to get back in. That’s sometimes the nature of the beast, unfortunately.”

Hickey, 30, is in the first year of a four-year, $10 million deal. When he played Tuesday, he forced Scott Mayfield out the lineup and bumped Devon Toews over to the right side. The next time he gets in, it might make more sense for Adam Pelech to come out and pair Hickey with Ryan Pulock.

Either way, Trotz is not planning a rotation.

“No. 1 thing is we have to go with the lineup that we think gives us the best chance to win every night until we get to where we want to get to, and that’s into the postseason,” Trotz said, his team getting Saturday off before returning to action with a Coliseum matinee against the Flyers on Sunday.

“We’re not there. And if someone gets nicked up, we’ve got other guys that will have to step up and do that.”

Trotz is well aware of the remaining schedule, including the fact the final game of the regular season is in Washington on April 6. If the battle for first place in the Metropolitan Division between his current team and his former team comes down to that game, seems like Trotz would be pretty pleased.

“If it comes down to the last game of the season for placing, it is what it is. It’ll be great,” he said. “That [would be] a situation where you are getting ready for playoffs, and it might be a playoff game.”

Trotz said Andrew Ladd is expected to get back into the lineup on Sunday after the veteran winger had been a healthy scratch on Friday. That would have been the third game in fourth nights for Ladd, who had just returned from a lower-body injury suffered back on Nov. 13.