Islanders' 'Identity Line' of Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin doesn't see much ice time
Casey Cizikas of the New York Islanders defends against Nick Perbix of the Tampa Bay Lightning at UBS Arena on Saturday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Center Casey Cizikas returned to the lineup after a one-game absence because of a hand injury, but his linemates didn’t see much ice time in Saturday afternoon’s 4-2 loss to the Lightning at UBS Arena after the Islanders fell behind by three goals in the second period.
Cal Clutterbuck logged 6:36 and Matt Martin played 4:30 — with four penalty minutes — as both had just two shifts apiece in the second and third periods. It was a season-low ice time for both.
“There was some urgency,” coach Patrick Roy said. “It was a big game.”
Roy also used second-line center Brock Nelson on the top line with Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal to try to generate more speed and scoring.
Bolduc’s confidence
Samuel Bolduc’s conditioning stint with the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport is as much about his mental game as it is physical.
The rookie defenseman was a healthy scratch in the Islanders’ previous seven games and in 13 of their previous 17. He has a goal and two assists in 33 games and is averaging only 12:56 of ice time.
“It’s about confidence,” Roy said. “He’s down there for a short period of time and we just want him to pick up his confidence and when he comes up, he’ll feel good.”
Isles files
Barzal notched his 300th career assist on Anders Lee’s third-period goal . . . Noah Dobson had two assists, giving him 60 points. It’s the most for an Islanders defenseman since Doug Crossman had 59 in 1989-90 . . . Defenseman Scott Mayfield (lower body) was unavailable and is day-to-day. Sebastian Aho logged 12:38 with two shots and two blocked shots . . . Alexander Romanov blocked a game-high six shots and was credited with a game-high four hits. Ryan Pulock blocked five shots as the Islanders had 19 total.
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.
