Islanders goalie Halak uncertain for opener: report

The status of injured New York Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak for their season opener Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks remains unknown.

"He got a good sweat in the past couple days down [at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.], he did a lot of work, he was on the ice early," coach Jack Capuano told Newsday on Wednesday (the Islanders were there for a team-building retreat). "We'll have to see how he feels tomorrow and then tie it all together."

Halak has been bothered by an upper-body injury for two weeks. It limited him to two periods in the preseason.

The season opener will be the Islanders’ first game at Barclays Center in Brooklyn after moving from Nassau County after 43 years. Backup Thomas Greiss would get his first start with New York if Halak is deemed unable to play.

"You don't want to rush things, especially with a guy in that important position for us," Capuano said.

Halak was 38-17-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage in 59 games in 2014-15, his first season with New York.

The Islanders claimed goalie Jean-Francois Berube off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday. The 24-year-old helped Manchester of the American Hockey League win the Calder Cup last season, going 13-3 with a 2.30 GAA and .898 save percentage in 17 playoff games.