Isles Day-To-Day: Cizikas Skates With Islanders

While not ready to return to action, Casey Cizikas was on the ice for Islanders practice on Wednesday morning.
Cizikas, who has been out with an upper-body injury since Dec. 15, wore a black jersey at practice - a non-contact designation. Head coach Jack Capuano said Cizikas isn't returning on the team's two-game road trip in Minnesota and Winnipeg, but the Islanders want Cizikas to get some skating in before the Isles five-day break from Jan. 1-5.

"He skated yesterday in the pre-game, so he's still a little bit of time away, but good to get out there and get some conditioning," Capuano said. "There's a chance he could make the trip. We have the break coming up so any time he can get some ice and condition him and see where he's at, so it's a real possibility."
Cizikas has 13 points (4G, 9A) in 29 games this season and is the team's most-used penalty killer at 2:42 SH TOI per game.
UPDATE: Cizikas travelled with the team to Minnesota and skated on Thursday. Capuano said Cizikas may start doing battle drills and there's a chance he could be ready to return on Saturday in Winnipeg.