RALEIGH, N.C. — The fourth line has not yet been the identity setter for the Islanders that coach Barry Trotz came to rely on so heavily last season. And, on Friday night against the Hurricanes at PNC Arena, the trio wasn’t even intact.
Center Casey Cizikas missed his first game with an unspecified issue that kept him from practice both on Monday and Thursday and left him as the only Islander not to participate in Friday’s morning skate.
Cizikas, asked about his health on Tuesday, responded, “Good, good, good,” but did not take further questions on the subject.