Isles Day-to-Day: Cizikas, Ladd and Martin on IR

Casey Cizikas, Andrew Ladd and Matt Martin were placed on injured reserve on Thursday morning.
Cizikas (lower body) is expected to miss two or three weeks, while Ladd (lower body) is out indefinitely. Both players were placed on IR retroactive to Nov. 13. Martin was placed on IR retroactive to Nov. 1, as he continues his recovery from a upper-body injury.
As a result, Michael Dal Colle and Stephen Gionta were recalled from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

"In our game there are going to be people who get hurt. Unfortunately we took a couple of blows there and it's sort of the next man up mentality for our group," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "That's part of being a good team. No excuse, just have to fill the role."
General Manager Lou Lamoriello said the two recalls were based on positional needs, as well as merit. Gionta, a veteran checking center, is expected to fill Cizikas' role as a grinder and penalty killer, while Dal Colle fills a void on the left wing with both Martin and Ladd out.
"They are two players who deserve to be here," Lamoriello said. "Michael Dal Colle has played extremely well and he's a left wing and Stephen Gionta is a counterman with similar traits as Casey Cizikas. You make positional calls if you have the ability to do that."

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Dal Colle has 14 points (7G, 7A) in 14 games this season and leads the Sound Tigers in goals. Trotz said he's not as familiar with Dal Colle's game, but said he got rave reviews out of Bridgeport.
"The coaching staff there, Lou, our people there have all said he's been the most consistent and best player down there this year," Trotz said. "He deserves to come up and get an opportunity from there."
"It's very exciting," Dal Colle said. "I think I was off to a good start, the team was off to a good start down there and I think I've been a big part of that. I'm honored to get the call and excited to be up here."
Trotz did not reveal his lineup for Thursday's game against the New York Rangers, but Gionta is expected to play with the Islanders down to three healthy centers. Gionta signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Isles in October after accepting a professional tryout in training camp.
"You can't replace Casey and what he means to this team," Gionta said. "Any time he misses a game it's a huge loss for the team, but I've got to come in and fill in as best as I can and I'll stick to my game and hopefully that's enough."
Dal Colle stayed on the ice for extra work after the Islanders morning skate, so it's unclear if he'll make his season debut. If he doesn't play, Ross Johnston will likely draw into the lineup.
As for Ladd, the veteran winger has suffered his second injury of the season after missing almost all of training camp and the Isles first three games of the season. Martin participated in Thursday's morning skate, but does not have a set timetable for a return.