Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 12/17/13

Dec 14, 2013; Uniondale, NY, USA; New York Islanders goalie

(20) looks on against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Islanders return to the Coliseum ice tonight as they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning, looking to avenge a tough 1-0 overtime loss against the Montreal Canadiens this past Saturday.

Where there’s bad news, there’s good news: Casey Cizikas was on the ice with the rest of the team for practice Monday morning with extra protection around his jaw, which was injured via a high forearm in the game against the Phoenix Coyotes last week. Cizikas did miss Saturday’s game but if yesterday’s practice was any indication, Cizikas may be back to the lineup tonight, just embracing the jaw protection we’re grown familiar seeing on Andrew MacDonald.

The Islanders look to snap out of their offensive woes. Of course, Ryan Strome was not a fix-all solution to the Isles lack of scoring, but his presence should get the team going once he’s acclimated with his new teammates. With Steven Stamkos still sidelined by his ankle injury, the Isles will still need to play a strong game. The Lightning are coming off a big 3-0 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday and the Isles will need to find their scoring ways more than anything else tonight.

In Case You Missed It

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NHL TV Schedule : Week Of December 16 (Eyes on Isles)

Islanders Trying to Figure Out How to Jump-Start Offense (Newsday)

Peters? Gleason? Hurricanes Trying to Trade You Their Junk (Lighthouse Hockey)

Around the NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins 3, Toronto Maple Leafs 1

Winnipeg Jets 3, Columbus Blue Jackets 2

Ottawa Senators 3 (OT), St. Louis Blues 2

Colorado Avalanche 6, Dallas Stars 2

Across the Sound

The 10-13-1-3 (24pts) Bridgeport Sound Tigers face off against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday at 7:00PM in Hartford. With Anders Nilsson rejoining the Sound Tigers, goaltender Parker Milner was reassigned to the Stockton Thunder on Monday. In four games (three of which he started), Milner was 1-2-0, with a .890 SV% and 3.28 GAA.