During the Islanders 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Saturday, the team said Muckalt will have an operation next week.

Muckalt, acquired from Vancouver in the Dec. 19 trade that sent goalie Felix Potvin to the Canucks, was injured by a check Thursday night delivered by Tampa Bay's Robert Petrovicky.

"I was in a lot of pain and I knew I dislocated it," Muckalt said Saturday. "I got caught at the right angle at the wrong time."

In 12 games with the Islanders, Muckalt has four goals and three assists. Overall Muckalt has scored eight times and has seven assists in 41 contests.

The right wing is the third Islanders player to be sidelined this season with a shoulder injury.

Backup goalie Wade Flaherty had surgery on Dec. 13 and is also out for the season. Defenseman Zdeno Chara will miss four weeks after separating his shoulder last Monday against Phoenix.