Isles Day to Day: Cizikas and Nelson Practice

Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas hit the ice for Tuesday's optional morning skate. Nelson exited Friday's game against the Florida Panthers in the second period after an errant shot from Alex Romanov caught him in the head. Nelson leads the team in goals (15) and points (34) this season, collecting five points in his last six games.
"I feel good now," Nelson said. "It's a little disorienting right away... couple stitches but a couple days rest is nice."
Cizikas missed Friday's matchup due to an upper body injury he suffered in the second period of Thursday's game against the New York Rangers. Cizikas (2G, 5A) is two games shy of his 700th career NHL game.

"I feel good now. [I'm] able to feel good enough where I don't feel like I'm putting the team at a disadvantage," Cizikas said. "I felt good out there today and looking forward to tonight."
Both players are considered "game-time decisions" but "seem to be okay," Head Coach Lane Lambert said after the skate.

Simon Holmstrom did not skate with the team this morning. The Swedish winger left Friday's game in the second frame after a collision with Sam Bennett. He picked up his first goal with the Islanders earlier this month in a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights.
"He's not skating," Lambert said of Holmstrom. "He's out, so he's day to day and we'll see where it goes from there."
Adam Pelech (lower body), Kyle Palmieri (lower body), Cal Clutterbuck (lower body) and Semyon Varlamov (lower body) all remain on the IR. Palmieri and Clutterbuck are skating, per Lambert.
The three-day break marked the longest gap in the season for the Islanders so far, allowing players to re-energize for
Tuesday's tilt vs Pittsburgh
.
"Anytime you get to three days, just to get away from the rink and recharge," Nelson said. "I think it just helps over the course of 82 games, it's a long year [with] a couple of long trips. It was nice to be home for Christmas."