Islanders Alexander Romanov, Ryan Pulock finally get game action as key pairing races to get up to speed

With the clock ticking fast toward opening night Wednesday in Toronto, Alexander Romanov and Ryan Pulock are a near certainty to form the Islanders’ second pair against the Maple Leafs, with the first being Adam Pelech and Matthew Schaefer — on his off side. Friday’s preseason match against the Rangers, though, was the first time the Islanders’ hopeful second pair got into any game action during camp.The Islanders wanted to give both an extra few days of practice after they had undergone shoulder surgery — Romanov soon after the hit from Mikko Rantanen that ended his season last November and Pulock after the season.

That came with the tradeoff of asking both to play back-to-back nights, with coach Pete DeBoer looking to roll out an NHL lineup Saturday against the Devils. “I really don’t care,” Romanov told The Post of a preseason scenario most would rather avoid.“Back-to-back, back-to-back-to-back, that doesn’t matter.” What matters for both Romanov and Pulock alike is getting touches, taking hits and getting to game speed quickly.

It was largely forgotten amid the hole created in the Islanders lineup with Romanov out, but he struggled badly in the 15 games he played last season, never looking like himself. As for Pulock, he labored through a shoulder injury in the second half of the season, his play slipping as a result. This is to say: The Islanders don’t need to imagine what it is like to have a diminished version of either one in their lineup.It won’t go well. “Summer was obviously different,” Pulock told The Post.

“It’s the first time I’ve had a surgery like that.The rehab process, different steps.

I think off the start, there wasn’t much happening [after surgery] until you can start the strengthening portion of things.I spent the summer here with our guys.

I think they did a great job from a strength standpoint — all my testing is better than it was before.” Ditto for Romanov, who said he’s dropped approx...