Islanders fourth-line center Casey Cizikas was unable to play in Monday night’s game against the Panthers at Barclays Center and coach Doug Weight acknowledged there are concerns about a longer-term absence.
The Islanders said Cizikas was dealing with an upper-body injury and Weight said he would not travel to Ottawa for Tuesday night’s game.
“He just hasn’t bounced back,” Weight said. “He kind of got through a couple of games and was expecting to feel better and it just isn’t feeling better.”
Goalie Jaroslav Halak is the expected starter at Ottawa, Weight said.
Halak played well in each of the Islanders’ first two games against the Senators this season, making 31 saves in a 2-1 win at Ottawa on Nov.