New York Islanders’ forward Casey Cizikas out week-to-week with lower-body injury

The New York Islanders have announced that forward Casey Cizikas is out week-to-week with a lower-body injury. He sustained an injury during the Islanders’ Tuesday evening game against the Vancouver Canucks. They ended up losing the game and one of their key forwards. Now we know that he’ll be out for some time.

Cizikas has scored five goals and 11 points this season in 39 games for the Islanders. He’s been a consistent fourth-liner for over a decade now. Originally selected by the Islanders in the fourth-round of the 2009 NHL Draft, Cizikas was a long-shot to make the NHL at first. Against all odds, Cizikas has become one of the best bottom-six players of the last 13 seasons in the NHL.

The Islanders are in the thick of the playoff race right now, currently holding the first wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. Cizikas has played most of the season alongside Cal Clutterbuck and Hudson Fasching. They have a 45.8% xGoals which is a step down from what the Islanders’ fourth-line has been able to accomplish in previous years.

The Islanders are surprisingly having a strong season even though the offence is subpar and the goaltending below average. They hope to continue this “against the odds” success throughout the season and into the playoffs.