Game Preview: Islanders at Capitals

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (3-2-0) AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS (3-0-3)
7PM | CAPITAL ONE ARENA
WATCH: NBCSN | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 570AM
The New York Islanders take on the Washington Capitals for the first time since the First Round of the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs where they beat the Capitals in five games.

The Islanders travel to Washington for the second leg of their five-game road trip and are slated to face the Caps twice in three days. The Islanders enter the contest coming off of a 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday night. Ilya Sorokin made 22 saves on 24 shots for the Islanders who had to play without a forward for half of the game after Anthony Beauvillier left the ice just over six minutes into the second period with a lower-body injury.
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Sunday's loss marked the second time in five games the Islanders were shut out.
"Our top two lines are carrying the load and we're not getting that complete contribution through the lineup right now," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "When we're most successful, one night it's the third line, the next night it's the fourth line, we're getting three of the four lines contributing. Lately, we've just had one of the four lines that's contributing, but that's a little more playoff style. Teams aren't giving up as much give and five when I look around the league. Special teams totals seem to be the difference makers every night now."
Washington entered the match coming off a 4-3 shootout loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday afternoon, five of the six goals scored between the teams were from special teams. Justin Schultz, T.J. Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom accounted for the Caps scoring, while Vitek Vanecek made 45 saves on 48 shots in regulation. Buffalo's Jack Eichel scored the sole shootout goal that provided the Sabres with the extra point.
Washington is still without forwards Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeny Kuznetsov, defenseman Dmitry Orlov and goaltender Ilya Samsonov who are sidelined for at least four games quarantining in accordance with NHL COVID-19 protocols and local restrictions.

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ISLANDERS NOTES:

• Trotz provided an update on Anthony Beauvillier on Monday afternoon following their practice at Capital One Arena.
"Lower-body [injury] and he's day-to-day," Trotz said. If Beauvillier is unable to play against the Caps, Trotz noted that lineup changes would be considered regardless of Beauvillier's status.
• Sorokin made his second-career start on Sunday and while it was an improvement on his surprise first start, he posted his second-career loss. The Russian rookie netminder now has a .917 SV% and a 3.57 GAA
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• The Islanders allowed one power-play goal against the Devils. The Islanders penalty kill has allowed two power play goals throughout 17 attempts. In the NHL, the Islanders PK is ranked sixth overall with a kill percentage of 88.2%.
• The Islanders finished the night against New Jersey winning 61% of faceoffs. Across the league, the Islanders currently boast the highest average faceoff win percentage of 58.0%.
• The Islanders power play went 0-for-2 against New Jersey. While both power-play attempts weren't able to convert they generated promising looks; during their first opportunity on the man advantage, the unit generated six shots. The Islanders have scored four times on the power play throughout their 22 opportunities giving them a conversion rate of 18.2%.
• Brock Nelson became the sixth Islander to dress for 250-consecutive games while Ryan Pulock became the third Islander defenseman to play 200-consecutive games.
• The Islanders are averaging the second-fewest goals against per game in the NHL (1.60), behind the Dallas Stars (1.00). It should be noted the Stars have only played two games due to the start of their season being delayed as 17 players tested positive for COVID-19.
• The Islanders trip down to Washington will be the fifth time since becoming head coach of the Islanders that Trotz has returned to his former club. The Islanders have won the previous four visits against the Caps at Capital One Arena.

CAPITALS NOTES:

• Like many teams, the Capitals had a busy offseason and will be presenting a different lineup than the one the Islanders faced last August in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Following their second-straight First Round exit since winning the Stanley Cup with Trotz in 2018, Washington opted for a change behind the bench. After former coach Todd Reirden was let go, Peter Laviolette - who coached the Islanders from 2001-03 - was named the new head coach of the organization on Sept. 15.
• As far as players, the Capitals added forwards Connor Sheary (from Buffalo) and Daniel Sprong (Anaheim), defensemen Justin Schultz (from Pittsburgh), Trevor Van Riemsdyk (Carolina) and Zdeno Chara (Boston) and goaltender Craig Anderson (from Ottawa) who the Capitals signed following a PTO.
• Schultz opened up scoring for the Capitals against Buffalo while also registering his first goal for the club. Schultz also added an assist and now has two points (1G, 1A) through six games this season.
• Oshie scored his second goal and second power-play goal of the season and extended his point streak to three games with as many points (1G, 2A) in that span. The winger now has six points (2G, 4A) through six games this season.
• Backstrom, who leads the Caps in scoring, extended his goal streak to two games as he deposited his fourth goal of the season and second power-play goal. The Swede also recorded an assist and now has seven points (4G, 3A) through six games.
• With an assist in the game against Buffalo, Jakub Vrana now has a three-game point streak with four points (1G, 3A) during that span. On the season, Vrana has six points (3G, 3A) through six games.

• Vanecek made his fourth start of the season in the shootout loss. The 25-year-old rookie made 45 saves. Vanecek now has a record of 2-0-2, a .912 SV% and a 2.87 GAA.
• The Capitals power play was 2-for-3 and their penalty kill went two-for-five against Buffalo. Washington's power play is ranked eighth overall with a 33.3% conversion rate. Their penalty kill is 22nd in the league with a kill percentage of 73.9%.
• The Capitals unveiled their new third jerseys for this season on Monday afternoon. The team will debut against the Islanders on Tuesday.
• Tom Wilson missed Sunday's game against Buffalo with a lower-body injury that he sustained in the game prior. Thorough five games, the right winger has six points (3G, 3A).
• In Wilson's place, Connor McMichael made his NHL debut with the Caps against Buffalo. McMichael, who was drafted 25th overall at the 2019 NHL Draft, did not record a point but played 9:54.

MORNING SKATE UPDATES:

• Trotz did not have an update on Beauvillier's status ahead of the game against Washington.
  - Laviolette said that Wilson status would be a game-time decision against the Islanders.