After a win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, the New York Islanders (15-8-8) hit the road for two games before Christmas, starting against the Washington Capitals (15-9-4) on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After a win over the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night, the New York Islanders (15-8-8) hit the road for two games before Christmas, starting against the Washington Capitals (15-9-4) on Wednesday.
Puck drop from Capital One Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Tonight’s game is the second of a back-to-back for the Islanders, the first coming against the Edmonton Oilers on Long Island. After Ilya Sorokin yielded an early goal to Leon Draisaitl, the Islanders got off to a slow start. Edmonton dictated the opening 10 minutes, with the Islanders adjusting in the latter half of the first period. In the middle period, the Islanders’ special teams led the way.
Anders Lee and Bo Horvat scored power-play goals, while Simon Holmstrom finished his fifth shorthanded goal of the campaign. Despite Edmonton pushing in the third, the Islanders limited Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, slamming the door on a 3-1 win.
Tonight’s game is the first of five straight games against divisional foes to finish the calendar year. The Islanders will visit the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night in their final game before Christmas. Following the break, the Islanders play bookend games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, starting at UBS Arena on Dec. 27, with a visit from the Capitals in the middle.
Morning Skate Updates:
The Islanders did not skate this morning due to the back-to-back.
With Sorokin starting last night, Semyon Varlamov is projected to make his 12th start of the season tonight (6-4-1, 2.73 GAA, .919 SV%). He’s started both games against the Capitals this season, earning a 32-save shutout in our nation’s capital on Nov. 2. He most recently suffered a loss on Nov. 11, surrendering three goals on 27 shots. In 23 career outings against Washington, he is 8-12-3 with a .921 SV% and 2.53 GAA, along with three clean sheets.
Washington skated at the MedStar Capitals Iceplex this morning.
Darcy Kuemper was in the starter’s crease for the Capitals, he will make his 16th start of the season tonight (7-6-2, 2.97 GAA, .897 SV%). He started the last time the Islanders visited the Capitals on Nov. 2, allowing three goals on 21 shots. In 13 career appearances, he boasts a 5-5-2 record with a 2.62 GAA and .908 SV%.
T.J. Oshie was placed on the Capitals’ injured reserve on Tuesday. Ivan Miroshnichenko and Hendrix Lapierre were both recalled by the Capitals yesterday. Miroshnichenko is projected to make his NHL debut tonight.
The Capitals announced they will be signing defenseman Ethan Bear to a contract, but he will not play tonight. The Hockey News’ Sammi Silber reports the 26-year-old is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and will likely sign after the NHL’s roster freeze is lifted on Dec. 28.
New York Islanders Lines (Projected):
Anders Lee - Bo Horvat - Mathew Barzal
Pierre Engvall - Brock Nelson - Kyle Palmieri
Simon Holmstrom - Jean-Gabriel Pageau - Julien Gauthier
Hudson Fasching - Casey Cizikas - Cal Clutterbuck
Alexander Romanov - Noah Dobson
Samuel Bolduc - Robert Bortuzzo
Mike Reilly - Sebastian Aho
Semyon Varlamov
Ilya Sorokin
Washington Capitals Lines (Projected):
Alex Ovechkin - Dylan Strome - Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas - Connor McMichael - Anthony Mantha
Hendrix Lapierre - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Ivan Miroshnichenko
Beck Malenstyn - Nic Dowd - Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary - John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson - Nick Jensen
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Islanders Notes
The Islanders won their previous visit to Capital One Arena. Despite getting outshot 22-9 in the first two periods, New York made the most of their chances. Ryan Pulock opened the scoring 22 seconds in, with Holmstrom adding one more before the end of the first and Brock Nelson adding on in the second.
Varlamov remained on his game all night, finishing off the shutout and a 3-0 win.
Horvat remained the hot hand for the Islanders on Tuesday, potting his 13th goal of the season. The Islanders’ centerman extended his career-long point streak to 11 games, totaling eight goals and nine assists in that span.
Nelson added an assist on Horvat’s goal to extend his point streak to five games, totaling four red lights and four helpers. He leads the Islanders in goals and points against Washington, totaling 13 and 25, respectively. Mathew Barzal leads in assists with 16.
The Islanders’ top shorthanded duo connected for the fifth time on Tuesday. Holmstrom tallied his shorthanded goal and sixth shorthanded point, while Pageau added his fifth assist while down a man. All of those numbers lead the NHL.
Capitals Notes
The Capitals took their last meeting with the Islanders on Nov. 11. Alex Ovechkin opened the scoring around halfway through the first period, but Alex Romanov evened the score in the final minute of the opening frame. The rest of the game was all Washington, as Nic Dowd, Aliaksei Protas, and Ovechkin added goals in the final 40. Rookie goaltender Hunter Shepard stopped 36 shots to earn the win, a 4-1 triumph.
Last time out, the Capitals topped the Hurricanes 2-1 in a shootout. Sebastian Aho and Martin Fehervary traded goals in the second period, but that was all the two teams mustered in regulation. After a scoreless overtime, Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the lone shootout tally. Kuemper finished with 28 saves as the Capitals finished the victory.
In what has been a down year for Ovechkin in the goals department, two veteran forwards have picked up the slack. Tom Wilson and Dylan Strome hold a tie for most points on the team with 18, Strome leading in goals with 12. Strome is also riding a four-game point streak, with two goals and three assists in that span.
Regardless of his struggles, Ovechkin is always a threat against the Islanders. His 44 goals and 67 points against New York lead the team by a wide margin. John Carlson, who leads the Capitals in assists this season, has the most helpers against the Islanders lifetime with 25.
Betting Corner
In this Metropolitan Division battle, the home team enters as the favorite tonight. The Capitals enter at -125 on the moneyline, the Islanders starting at +105. The over/under starts at six goals, the under favored at -120 to the over’s +105.
All lines are courtesy of MGM Sportsbook.
How To Watch
For the second straight night, the Islanders will be on national television. TNT will air tonight’s contest with Brendan Burke and Darren Pang on the call. On the radio, tonight’s game is available on 88.7 FM WRHU, 103.9 LI News Radio, and 1050 AM ESPN.
Matthew Page contributed to this report.