Islanders Milestone Watch: Casey Cizikas
Speed. Grit. Energy. That's New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas in a nutshell. Let's dive into his upcoming milestones.
We here at The Hockey News have begun our New York Islanders Milestone Watch series for the 2023-24 season. After kicking things off with Matt Martin, and following that story with one on Cal Clutterbuck, we round out the fourth line with Casey Cizikas.
Speed. Grit. Energy. That's New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas in a nutshell.
Those attributes allowed the former fourth-round pick to become an excellent fourth-line skater for New York and an impeccable penalty killer.
Flanked by Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, Cizikas at the center allowed the trio to became one of the best fourth lines in hockey, with the threesome playing a rather integral role in the back-to-back runs to the semi-finals in 2020 and 2021.
While Martin and Clutterbuck are known more for their physicality, Cizikas always brought more of the offensive touch to that Cizikas line -- and speed.
That brings us to his upcoming milestone as he sits three goals away from hitting the 100-goal mark of his career.
Spearheaded by an outlier 20-goal campaign in 2018-19 -- which he parlayed into a six-year deal worth $15 million following the shortened 2019-20 season -- Cizikas has certainly had his moments in blue and orange.
Let's check out a few of Cizikas' top goals.
In February of 2018, Cizikas forced a turnover in the low slot against the Calgary Flames before diving in front of then-netminder Mike Smith, before poking the puck with one hand through the wickets:
His goal against the Washington Capitals before the end of the 2021-22 season was one for the ages:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-o6oA-tOlg[/embed]
Or how about this one against the Pittsburgh Penguins in February of 2021, when he dangled around goaltender Casey DeSmith while on his knees?
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8po3XCVNig[/embed]
Not only is it more than likely Cizikas will hit that 100-goal milestone, but he should also hit the 800-game mark, as the 32-year-old sits 55 games away.
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