Game Preview: Islanders vs Capitals

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (28-14-4) VS WASHINGTON CAPITALS (32-11-5)
1 PM | NYCB LIVE | BUY TICKETS
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 1050AM
With a power play goal scored in the final minute of the game, the New York Islanders dropped a tough 3-2 result to the New York Rangers on Thursday night at NYCB Live. Josh Bailey and Anthony Beauvillier scored while Semyon Varlamov made 25 saves.
The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils 5-2 on Thursday night. Alex Ovechkin recorded a hat trick while Carl Hagelin and Jakub Vrana also scored. Ilya Samsonov made 32 saves.

ISLES NOTES:

• The Islanders are 1-2-1 in their past four games. Both regulation losses have come against the Rangers.
  - Bailey scored his 10th goal of the season, his second goal in as many games and his 150th as an Islander. Bailey has 26 points through 46 games.
  - Beauvillier scored his 12th goal of the season and his second goal in as many games as well. The winger also has 26 points through 46 games.
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  - Ross Johnston assisted on Bailey's goal to record his first assist of the season and first assist since December 8, 2018. Through 26 games this season, Johnston has four points (3G, 1A).
  - Tom Kuhnhackl recorded an assist for the second-straight game and third assist of the season. Kuhnhackl has six points (3G, 3A) through 20 games this season.
  - Ryan Pulock assisted on Beauvillier's goal and added his third assist through the past two games. Through 46 games this season, Pulock leads Isles defensemen with 23 points (6G, 17A).
  - Brock Nelson assisted on Beauvillier's goal and extended his point streak to three games, with five points (3G, 2A) during that span. Nelson leads the Isles with 18 goals. The center has 36 points through 46 games.
  - Varlamov made his 26th start of the season and has a record of 15-7-4. Varlamov has a 2.50 GAA, a .918 SV% and two shutouts. Varlamov has lost two straight starts.
  - Casey Cizikas drew back into the lineup after missing two-straight games with a groin injury. In his return, the center logged 13:54 time on ice, had one block, one shot on goal, four hits and went 14-3 in the face-off dot.
  - Jordan Eberle matched a season-high six shots on goal during the game.
  - The Isles allowed the go-ahead goal in the final two minutes of play for the first time since Tyler Johnson did so for Tampa Bay on November 8, 2018.
  - The Isles power play went 0-for-5, while their penalty kill went 3-for-5.
  - The Isles (60 points) are five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins (65 points) for second place in the Metro Division. The Isles are three points ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes (57 points), who are fourth and occupy the first wild card.
  - Otto Koivula was assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on Friday afternoon.

CAPS NOTES:

• Ovechkin recorded his 25th-career hat trick and became the third player in NHL history to record 15-straight seasons with 30 goals or more. In the last two games, Ovechkin has five goals. Through 48 games this season, the Russian winger has 47 points (31G, 16A). His 31 goals are third highest in the NHL.
  - Hagelin scored his second goal of the season. The winger has 10 points (2G, 8A) through 37 games this season.
  - Vrana found the back of the net for the 21st time this season and extended his point streak to seven games. The Czech winger has eight points (6G, 2A) during that span.
  - John Carlson assisted on two of Ovechkin's goals and extended his point streak to three games. Carlson leads all defenseman in the NHL with 58 points and 45 assists through 48 games. Carlson also leads the Capitals in the same categories.
  - Nicklas Backstrom signed a five-year extension with the Capitals on Tuesday. Backstrom has 37 points (9G, 28A) in 40 games this season. He is the Capitals all-time assists leader (670) and only current NHL player to record six-straight, 50-assist seasons.
  - TJ Oshie will represent the Capitals at the NHL All-Star Weekend in St. Louis. Oshie was voted to the game in the Last Men In campaign. Oshie will be competing in his first all-star game.
  - Samsonov made his 16th start of the season and improved his record to 14-2-1. Samsonov's 2.10 goals against average is the best in the NHL. The 22-year-old has won nine straight decisions.
  - The Caps power play went 1-for-5 against New Jersey and their penalty kill went 4-for-4. Across the NHL, the Caps PK unit is second best with a kill percentage of 84.4%.
  - The Caps are ranked fifth in the NHL in goals for per game with an average of 3.50.
  - Washington leads the NHL with 69 points (32-11-5).

ISLES VS. CAPS:

The Islanders and Caps last met on New Year's Eve where the Isles closed out the decade with a 4-3 win. Cizikas scored twice in the win, while Varlamov made 36 saves, including 18 in the third period.
Washington claimed the first meeting of the season on Oct. 4 with a 2-1 result. In both meetings, the visiting team has won.