Each forward left the bubble in Edmonton, the hub city for the conference finals and Stanley Cup Final, before a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday.
"They both mean a lot to our team," defenseman Nick Leddy said after Tampa Bay extended its lead in the best-of-7 series. "It's not just one or the other. It's very tough. You never want to see a guy get hurt, but the biggest thing since I've been here, it's always been that next-man mentality. We just need guys to step up in our locker room, and I have faith we'll do that."
As part of the NHL Return to Play Plan, a team is not permitted to disclose player injury or illness information.
Cizikas did not play in New York's 5-3 win in Game 3 on Friday. He had two assists in 18 games this postseason after scoring 14 points (10 goals, four assists) in 48 regular-season games.
Islanders coach Barry Trotz had said Cizikas would be a game-time decision for Game 4.
"It's not something you can dwell on and that we even really need to talk too much about," forward Josh Bailey said. "We want those guys in the lineup, but that's just the cards we're dealt right now."
Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau took Cizikas' place on a line with forwards Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck in Games 3 and 4.
Kuhnhackl last played Aug. 5, a 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Qualifiers. He had one assist in three postseason games after scoring six points (three goals, three assists) in 28 regular-season games.
