UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders acquired forward Junior Lessard from the Atlanta Thrashers for defenseman Brett Skinner and assigned the right wing to Bridgeport of the AHL on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old Lessard had six goals and five assists in 41 games this season with Chicago of the AHL. In 27 career NHL games with Dallas and Tampa Bay, he has three goals and an assist.

The 25-year-old Skinner played 11 games with the Islanders this season, but failed to record a point. He has recently been back at Bridgeport, where he had one goal and 11 assists in 24 games.

The Islanders also announced Tuesday that defenseman Andy Sutton, who broke a foot in December, had surgery and will be sidelined 8-to-10 weeks. Doug Weight was placed on the injured list, retroactive to Jan. 3, and is expected to be sidelined for 2-to-4 weeks because of a lower-leg injury.

New York activated centers Frans Nielsen and Nate Thompson from the injured list and had both players in the lineup Tuesday night against the New York Rangers.

Nielsen missed 23 games after sustaining multiple leg injuries on Nov. 21 at New Jersey. Thompson sat out for 12 contests due to a broken ankle.

The Islanders also recalled goalie Yann Danis from Bridgeport to back up Joey MacDonald, and was forced into immediate action when MacDonald limped off toward the dressing room just 5:11 into the game. MacDonald, who stopped all three shots he faced, was diagnosed with a strained groin. He will be evaluated on Wednesday.

Both players were subbing for injured regular Rick DiPietro (knee), who missed his fourth straight game. In the event that Danis was forced out of the game due to injury, the Islanders said goaltending coach Mike Dunham was cleared by the NHL to be the emergency goalie. Dunham's last NHL appearance was March 30, 2007, for the Islanders at Buffalo.