Morning Skate Updates: Islanders vs Capitals

The New York Islanders take on the Washington Capitals on Thursday night at 7 p.m. Watch the game on MSG+, MSG GO, NBC Sports Washington or SN360 in Canada. Listen live on 88.7FM - WRHU or 660AM/101.9FM - WFAN.
Read the game preview
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Check the game notes
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LINEUP NOTES:
The Islanders are going with the same lineup from Sunday's win over Calgary. That means Christopher Gibson will make his third straight start and that Ross Johnston remains in the lineup.

ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:

THEY SAID IT:
Casey Cizikas on tonight's game:
"For us the position that we're in, we have to stay away from [the standings] in a sense. Knowing that there's an outside chance that we can make it we have to come with our best game every single shift and it's going to be exciting tonight to play against these guys, they always bring the best out in us, so it's going to be a good game."
Doug Weight on starting Christopher Gibson:
"It's the run he's kind of got on... you kind of just ride him. We're very comfortable with both of them. I suspect that Jaro will play tomorrow, but I don't think at this time of the year you can take anything off the table, so we'll let Gibby keep going and see what happens."

THIS AND THAT:
9 of 13 at home - The Islanders will play nine of their final 13 regular season games at home.
33 - goals for Anders Lee. Lee leads the team with 33 goals this season and is one shy of matching his career high (34) set last season. Lee has five points (3G, 2A) in his last four games.
ON OVECHKIN'S 600TH:
The Islanders weighed in on Alex Ovechkin's 600th NHL goal. As much as Ovechkin is a division rival, the players have a lot of respect for what Ovi has managed to accomplish.
Mathew Barzal: "600 goals, that's insane. I can't even imagine 600 games. He's one of the best ever."
Casey Cizikas: "I don't think we're going to see too many players like him in the future. He's one of a kind. A lot of teams are trying to build power plays off where he stands and his shot and you see that around the league now. He's a big body that doesn't mind throwing his weight around and he's got the skill to go along with it. He's a special player."
Cizikas said he hasn't been hit by any Ovechkin one-timers on the PK. "No, I'm lucky, you've got to ask the d-men that one."

GRUBAUER TO START:
Philipp Grubauer will start for the Capitals on Thursday. Grubauer will make his fourth consecutive start for the Capitals and the backup is 10-8-3 this season with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
CAPITALS PROJECTED LINES:
| FORWARDS | | --- | | LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING | | ALEX OVECHKIN | EVGENY KUZNETSOV | TOM WILSON | | ANDRE BURAKOVSKY | NICKLAS BACKSTROM | T.J. OSHIE | | JAKUB VRANA | LARS ELLER | BRETT CONNOLLY | | CHANDLER STEPHENSON | JAY BEAGLE | DEVANTE SMITH-PELLY |

| DEFENSE | | --- | | MICHAL KEMPNY | JOHN CARLSON | | DMITRY ORLOV | MATT NISKANEN | | BROOKS ORPIK | JAKUB JERABEK |