The New York Islanders will usher in Brooklyn's Barclays Center without their starting goaltender Friday, as backup Thomas Greiss will start the season opener against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Jaroslav Halak is still dealing with the upper-body injury that forced him to miss two weeks of the preseason, head coach Jack Capuano confirmed Friday.

"Jaro's not 100 percent right now, so it was an easy decision," Capuano said. "Jaro's progressing well and we'll see how he is moving forward."

The Islanders signed Greiss as a free agent on July 1. The 29-year-old posted a 4.24 GAA and .851 save percentage in four exhibition games.

- With h/t to Newsday