Islanders Casey Cizikas out early vs. Flyers with lower body injury

New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas had to leave the game early after picking up an injury in the first period. If he has to miss time, Cole Bardreau should come back up.

The New York Islanders identity is driven by the fourth line and by center Casey Cizikas. On Tuesday, the center went down with an injury against the Philadelphia Flyers and would not return to the game with a lower-body injury according to the Islanders.

With Cizikas out for what could be a few games, the Islanders are going to need someone to step up and fill that gap.

Call-Up Cole

Early in the first period in against the Philadelphia Flyers, Casey Cizikas went down awkwardly with Flyers defenseman Ivan Provorov. Cizikas needed help to get up and immediately went to the dressing room.

You can see a replay of the incident here. But it looks like Cizikas knee rams his left knee into Provorov’s skate as he fell to the ice.

If the Islanders lose Cizikas, for any amount of time, it will be devastating for the Isles. The Islanders get so much of their energy from that fourth line and that fourth line is driven by Cizikas. Without him, that fourth line just isn’t the same.

Cole Bardreau is the likely candidate to replace Cizikas. The 26-year-old already had a short but incredibly memorable cameo with the Islanders this season.

Not only did he fill the role as a fourth-line center well, but he scored his first NHL goal on a penalty shot.

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Hopefully, Casey Cizikas isn’t out for long. The Isles need him in the lineup. If he is at least they got a guy they can count on in the AHL.