NY Islanders Casey Cizikas plays in 700th career game

Another life-long Islander hit a games play mark on Thursday night. Casey Cizikas skated in his 700th NHL game, logging 16:24 in the Islanders' 2-1 over the Columbus Blue Jackets for the team's third straight win.

The first 698 were as a center, the last two at wing. He is the 11th player in team history to play in 700 games - and one of four current Islanders to hit that NHL games milestone. After the game, on the radio post-game show, Cizikas reflected on his time with the team, saying, “We love the Island. We love our fans. Once you come to the Island, you don’t want to leave.”

Much of Cizikas' career has been spent centering the "Identity Line" or "The Best Fourth Line Ever" as Don Cherry once called them alongside Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. The trio brings constant enegrgy and a physciality to the Islanders lineup that makes them hard to play night in and night out.

“These guys are my family. I’ve created friendships that will last a lifetime,” Cizikas said after signing his six-year, $15M extension in 2021. “I’m going to die an Islander. That’s the way to put it.”

The Islanders drafted Cizikas with the 92nd pick overall, the first selection of the 4th round at the 2009 NHL Draft. After playing two seasons with the Bridgeport Soundtigers, he made his NHL debut on February 24, 2012, against the New York Rangers.

He appeared in 15 games with the Islanders that season and recorded four assists. His first two NHL points came on March 1, 2012, against the Philadelphia Flyers. The 31-year-old Cizikas has 208 career points (93G, 115A), including a career-best 20 goals during the 2018-19 season.