Islanders News: Cizikas hurt; Season's done; Not just for us, though

Last night, the Islanders dropped their fifth straight contest, having been outscored 12-0 over that span, to the Ottawa Senators. Today, well, nothing happens probably, as the NHL's holiday roster freeze is now in effect, or will go into effect at some time today.

Islanders Slangin's

• Recaps: LHH | Newsday | NHL.com | Islanders | NY Post | NYI Skinny | Silver Seven on what was potentially a costly win for Ottawa
• Casey Cizikas missed last night's game as well, and will be out "a couple of weeks." [Newsday]
• While it is only December, the Isles season, in effect, is over. Arthur Staple of Newsday is right when he says it is time for the Isles to start thinking long-term. The most damning piece of evidence (and good lord is it awful):

Amazingly, the Isles already have $65.8 million in cap space tied up for next year among 19 players — all 14 of the forwards that count against the current year’s cap (including Mikhail Grabovski), four defensemen and goaltender Jaroslav Halak. For a team that seems to be in need of an overhaul, that’s an ugly place to be heading into next season.

• Puck Daddy's Jersey Fouls features a John Tavares Frankenstein jersey. [Puck Daddy]
• Before last night's game, Rogers Hometown Hockey visited Milton, Ontario and had features on both John Tavares and John Tonelli. [NHL.com]
• Remember Jamie Doornbosch? No? He was one of the ATOs the Isles used for a game back toward the end of the 2011 season. He's playing pro hockey again, out in Wichita, KS. [Kansas.com]

Around the World

• Last night's NHL scores.
• Remember Andrey Pedan? The Canucks have recalled him to the big team again, though he has not played in any previous call-ups this season. [CanucksArmy]
• Former enforcer and Rangers captain Barry Beck has moved to Hong Kong and has been teaching hockey to the youths. [NY Times]
• A team in a similar predicament due to the large contracts they've handed out and the lack of success that was supposed to come with it: the Red Wings. [Winging It In Motown]
• A team who is also doing much worse than expected and has no answers for it: the Avalanche. [Denver Post]
• It was Social Media Night in Washington, and the Capitals Twitter team failed spectacularly. [SBN]
• What we all learned from U.S. junior selection camp. [NHL.com]
• Mark Borowiecki of the Senators lost a skate blade in a recent game and the video coach put together a compilation of the best parts of the shift, much to the delight of the team. [Ottawa Citizen]

To improve the start of your week

Folks, it's Monday. Christmas is at the end of the week, as is the beginning of Hanukkah, so be happy. If you need help with that, here you go (there's no sound so you can play the video anywhere):

Sometimes cats are sweet. Other times, they absorb the power of a ritual stone so they can finally overthrow and destroy their masters. pic.twitter.com/nuBcLO3oJL

— Jordan (@jordan_stratton) December 17, 2016