Cal Clutterbuck returns to Islanders' lineup against Coyotes
Cal Clutterbuck of the Islanders shoots the puck during the first period against the Stars at UBS Arena on Saturday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Cal Clutterbuck returned to the Islanders’ lineup for Thursday night’s 2-0 loss to the Coyotes at UBS Arena after missing the previous five periods with an unspecified issue the gritty right wing said is unrelated to the shoulder surgery that ended his last season.
“I feel good,” Clutterbuck said. “It will be with me through the season but it shouldn’t be a problem. It’s nothing serious.”
Clutterbuck missed Tuesday night’s win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden and had exited Monday night’s overtime win over the visiting Flames after the first period.
He also was the only Islander not to participate in this past Friday’s practice in Detroit, though he logged 13:36 with a game-high six hits in Saturday’s 3-0 road loss to the Red Wings.
No Cizikas update
Fourth-line center Casey Cizikas exited and eventually headed to the Islanders’ dressing room after appearing to hit his head during a faceoff against Barrett Hayton at 15:40 of the third period. Cizikas first sat on the team’s bench after leaving the ice.
Islanders coach Lane Lambert said he had no update on Cizikas and was not sure if Cizikas was pulled for testing by the NHL’s concussion spotter.
Martin’s fight No. 99
Left wing Matt Martin had career fight No. 99, per hockeyfights.com, against defenseman Josh Brown at 5:16 of the first period, connecting with a hard right hand and ultimately toppling his opponent.
“It was a testy game,” Martin said. “They have a few guys that mix it up.”
Isles files
The Islanders wore green camouflage warmup jerseys for Military Appreciation Night . . . Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky, UBS Arena president Kim Stone and Town of Hempstead supervisor Don Clavin attended a ceremony marking the renaming of the road in front of UBS Arena and Belmont Park to “NY Islanders Way.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
