Casey Cizikas of the Islanders shoots the puck during the third period against the Golden Knights at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on Dec. 5, 2019. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Casey Cizikas is still pretty sore, enough so that he missed his second straight game as the Islanders faced the Red Wings on Tuesday night at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum.
But coach Barry Trotz is hoping the invaluable fourth-line center can return for Thursday night’s rematch with the rival Rangers at the Coliseum.
Rookie Otto Koivula, recalled from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Monday, took Cizikas’ spot against the Red Wings for his seventh NHL game with Leo Komarov, who played the middle in Monday night’s 6-2 loss to the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, moving to right wing.