Johnston has played 29 games for the Ducks this season, scoring two points (0G / 2A) while averaging only 7:28 time-on-ice. The Ducks are expected to welcome Brock McGinn and Bo Groulx back into the lineup on Thursday as Johnston will be a healthy scratch.
Johnston missed Wednesday's game against the Maple Leafs but is set to return to the lineup for Friday's game against the Jets. Johnston has no goals and two assists in 26 games this season.
Johnston is one of a handful of lineup changes for the Ducks on Wednesday as they deal with a mix of injuries and illnesses. He has no goals and two assists in 26 games this season.
Johnston will re-enter Anaheim's lineup in place of the scratched Brock McGinn. Johnston has no goals and two assists in 22 games this season.
Johnston was placed on waivers by the Islanders on Monday and claimed by Anaheim on Tuesday. The 29-year-old bruising left-winger carries an annual cap hit of $1.1 million and is expected to be an intimidating presence in the Ducks bottom-six. He had two assists, 37 PIMs, two SOG, and a -1 plus/minus in 16 games played with the Islanders in 2022-23. He leaves New York after seven seasons, nine goals, 15 assists, and 283 PIMs through 134 career games played.
Johnston will fill in for Josh Bailey who is missing Monday's game due to an undisclosed injury. In limited action this season, Johnston has an assist in two games while averaging just 9:36 ATOI.
Johnston drew back into the Islanders lineup Tuesday vs. Chicago and recorded an assist while only playing 8:41 TOI. He finds himself back in the press box Thursday as New York elects to go with veteran Matt Martin instead.
It will be the second time Johnston has been asked to answer the bell as the scrappy winger last played on October 23rd vs. the Panthers. Through 119 career games, he has 22 points (9G/13A) and 248 PIMs while mostly occupying a fourth line role in New York.
Johnston will not be available until next Friday's game vs. the Coyotes. Matt Martin will likely draw back into the Islanders lineup on Saturday.
Johnston has regularly been a healthy scratch, so it's unclear if he will slot back into the lineup after clearing COVID-19 protocol.
Johnston has been a healthy scratch almost all season, so this probably doesn't change his status for this weekend's back-to-back. He joins Josh Bailey and Anders Lee on the protocol list.
