Capitals at Islanders preview

CAPITALS (39-23-7) at ISLANDERS (30-29-10)
7 p.m. ET; SN360, MSG+, NBCSWA, NHL.TV

Washington, which is seeking its third straight win, is tied with the Pittsburgh Penguins for first in the division but has played two fewer games. The Penguins visit the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday.
The Islanders are nine points behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. They ended an eight-game losing streak with a 5-2 win at the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

Players to watch

Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has 10 goals in his past 16 games, including his 600th NHL goal in a 3-2 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Ovechkin will tie Jari Kurri for 19th on the all-time list with his next goal.
Islanders forward Anders Lee has five points (three goals, two assists) in his past four games.

They said it

"I think these two games are going to have a big playoff feel because the Islanders are still in it and they need some points quickly. We just happen to be the team that's right in front of them right now that they need to collect some points. You know you're going to get the Islanders' absolute best." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz
"Looking at the standings, I think we all have a pretty good sense of where we're in. Staring at them, you know there's not just going to change. I think being through it, you just try to play all 82 (games) out as hard as you can and see where the chips fall." -- Islanders captain John Tavares

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Brett Connolly -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Andre Burakovsky
Jakub Vrana -- Lars Eller -- T.J. Oshie
Chandler Stephenson -- Jay Beagle -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Michal Kempny -- John Carlson
Brooks Orpik -- Jakub Jerabek
Philipp Grubauer
Braden Holtby
Scratched:Madison Bowey, Christian Djoos, Alex Chiasson, Travis Boyd
Injured: None

Islanders projected lineup

Anders Lee -- John Tavares -- Josh Bailey
Andrew Ladd -- Mathew Barzal -- Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier -- Brock Nelson -- Tanner Fritz
Ross Johnston -- Casey Cizikas -- Cal Clutterbuck
Nick Leddy -- Johnny Boychuk
Brandon Davidson -- Adam Pelech
Thomas Hickey -- Ryan Pulock
Christopher Gibson
Jaroslav Halak
Scratched:Chris Wagner, Sebastian Aho, Dennis Seidenberg
Injured:Thomas Greiss (lower body), Nikolay Kulemin (upper body), Calvin de Haan (upper body), Scott Mayfield (lower body), Shane Prince (lower body), Alan Quine (lower body)

Status report

Grubauer will make his fourth straight start; it will be Gibson's third straight. … Weight is hopeful Kulemin can participate in full practices within the next five days but admitted Mayfield broke his leg when he blocked a shot from Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban on Feb. 5.

Stat pack

Grubauer has won six of his past seven starts. He has a 1.40 goals-against average and .951 save percentage over that span. … The Islanders have allowed 50 or more shots six times this season. No team has allowed 50 or more seven times since the Buffalo Sabres in 1970-71.