After extending their point streak to three games, the New York Islanders (4-2-2) visit the Washington Capitals (4-3-1) for the first of two matchups in November.
ARLINGTON, Va -- After extending their point streak to three games, the New York Islanders (4-2-2) visit the Washington Capitals (4-3-1) for the first of two matchups in November.
Puck drop from CapitalOne Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.
While the Islanders did extend their point streak, they let a second point get away from them on Monday.
The Islanders held a 2-0 lead in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings, but three Red Wing goals in four minutes put the Islanders behind. Bo Horvat evened the game for the Islanders, but Lucas Raymond’s goal in overtime proved to be the difference in a 4-3 loss.
Their last matchup came on April 10, the Islanders’ penultimate game in the thick of their playoff chase. Despite Washington’s salary cap issues forcing them to play a man down, Washington took an early 3-0 lead and finished with a 5-2 win.
The loss seemingly took the Islanders out of the postseason, but a Chicago Blackhawks upset of the Pittsburgh Penguins the following night gave the Islanders another chance, leading to them clinching their spot in game 82. A pair of Florida Panthers’ losses allowed them to climb to the top Wild Card spot by season’s end.
Morning Skate Updates
Semyon Varlamov was the first goalie off at morning skate, he will make his third start of the season tonight (1-1-0, 1.51 GAA, .961 SV%, 1 SO).
Scott Mayfield traveled with the team to Washington, and will be a game-time decision, per Lane Lambert.
"He's a big part of our back end, our team. Brings unique elements that some other guys don't, just size and strength, penalty-killing ability, stuff like that," Dobson told The Hockey News. "So, if we're able to get him back, it's definitely a big boost.
"He's a guy that can play in all situations, so he's definitely been missed back there."
Mayfield hasn't played since opening night.
"Scotty is such a solid defender. So strong and big, uses his body well, plays and plays so many key minutes for us, whether it's on the penalty kill or big defensive shifts," Anders Lee told THN. "He's a big body that plays extremely hard, so he's a huge asset for us."
Mayfield being back also allows Lambert to play his blueliners more balanced, as Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock, and Noah Dobson have been eating minutes like food at a buffet.
"It doesn't matter if it's a defenseman or a forward, there's better slotting [getting a staple back in]," Lambert said. "So it puts everybody in the right spot."
The Capitals held an optional morning skate.
Center Nicklas Backstrom announced on Wednesday that he was stepping away from the team to focus on his health. The 17-year veteran missed most of last season due to a hip injury.
Darcy Kuemper was in the starter’s crease for Washington, as he’ll make his seventh start of the season (3-2-1, 2.92 GAA, .903 SV%).
New York Islanders Lines (Projected)
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Adam Pelech - Noah Dobson
Alexander Romanov - Ryan Pulock
Sebastian Aho - Samuel Bolduc
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
Washington Capitals Lines (Projected)
Alex Ovechkin - Dylan Strome - Tom Wilson
Sonny Milano - Evgeny Kuznetsov - T.J. Oshie
Anthony Mantha - Connor McMichael -Matthew Phillips
Beck Malenstyn - Hendrix Lapierre - Aliaksei Protas
Martin Fehervary - John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Hardy Haman Aktell - Nick Jenen
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Islanders Notes
The Islanders finished 1-2-1 against the Capitals last season. Their last matchup came on April 10, with the Islanders in the thick of their playoff chase. Despite Washington’s salary cap issues forcing them to play a man down, Washington took an early 3-0 lead and finished with a 5-2 win.
Noah Dobson tallied two points in Monday’s game. Dobson now has two goals and seven assists this season, all of those coming in his past seven games. Mathew Barzal also added an assist, he has a goal and five assists in his past seven games.
Varlamov will take the net against one of his former teams tonight. Varlamov spent three seasons in our nation’s capital, posting a 30-13-12 record, .917 SV%, and a 2.72 GAA. Against Washington, he boasts a 7-11-3 record, with a .918 SV% and 2.62 GAA.
After a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Islanders’ Pierre Engvall scored in two of three games against the Capitals. He has four goals against Washington in nine games. Brock Nelson leads all Islanders offensively against Washington with 12 goals and 23 points.
Capitals Notes
Washington enters tonight’s game off a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks. After falling behind in the first period on a goal by Luke Kunin, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, and Evgeny Kuznetsov helped the Capitals come from behind.
Dylan Strome has the hot stick for Washington so far. He has a three-game goal streak with four goals in that span, in addition to three goals against the Islanders last season. John Carlson tallied two helpers in Sunday’s game, bringing his season totals to a goal and six assists. He has points in all but two games this season.
Alex Ovechkin continues his quest to catch Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record. He has 42 goals and 65 points in 67 games lifetime against New York, far and away the most among all active Capitals. Ovechkin sits 70 goals away from Gretzky’s record of 892.
Darcy Kuemper will start tonight for Washington. He faced the Islanders in all four matchups between the teams last season and has 12 matchups lifetime against New York. He is 5-4-2 with a 2.58 GAA and .911 SV%.
Betting Corner
Do you think the Islanders will beat the Capitals? New York enters as the favorite, sitting at -135 on the money line, and Washington comes in at +110. The over/under comes in at 5.5 goals, with both sides sitting at -110.
All lines courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How to Watch
Tonight’s game can be found on MSGSN. On the radio, tonight’s game can be found on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN.
Matthew Page contributed to this report.