NHL Preview: New York Islanders (41-30-9) at Washington Capitals (34-36-9)

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NEW YORK ISLANDERS NOTES:

LAST GAME
DATE NYI RESULT SCORE NYI SCORERS IN GOAL
April 8, 2023 Win NYI 4 vs. PHI 0 Mayfield, Nelson,
Bolduc, Fasching
Sorokin (27/27)
Scott Mayfield opened the score with his sixth goal of the season, then Brock Nelson, Samuel Bolduc, and Hudson Fasching each followed as the New York Islanders defeated the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-0, Saturday night at UBS Arena. Bo Horvat, Noah Dobson and Simon Holmstrom each recorded multi-assist games, and Ilya Sorokin turned aside all 27 shots he faced to help the Islanders finish their season series against the Flyers with a 3-1-0 record.

INJURIES GAMES MISSED

3 Adam Pelech Dec. 9 – Jan. 21

8 Noah Dobson Jan. 23 – Jan. 28

10 Simon Holmstrom Dec. 23 – Jan. 6

12 Josh Bailey Nov. 29, Feb. 18 – Feb. 24

13 Mathew Barzal Jan. 6, Feb. 20 –

15 Cal Clutterbuck Oct. 13, Nov. 8, Dec. 2- Dec. 6, Dec. 17 – Jan. 3, Jan. 21 – Mar. 9

20 Hudson Fasching Jan. 19 – Jan. 28

21 Kyle Palmieri Nov. 23 – Dec. 13, Dec. 17 – Jan. 21

25 Sebastian Aho Oct. 13 – Oct. 20, Mar. 21 – Apr. 1

26 Oliver Wahlstrom Oct. 13, Dec. 29 –

28 Alexander Romanov Apr. 2 –

36 Otto Koivula Mar. 11 – Mar. 15

40 Semyon Varlamov Dec. 19 – Jan. 1

44 Jean-Gabriel Pageau Feb. 14 – Mar. 11

Man Games Lost: 206

RECENT RESULTS
Saturday, April 8 vs. Philadelphia W, 4-0
Thursday, April 6 vs. Tampa Bay W, 6-1
Sunday, April 2 at Carolina L, 2-1
Saturday, April 1 at Tampa Bay L, 5-0
Wednesday, Mar. 29 at Washington W/SO (2-1)
Monday, Mar. 27 vs. New Jersey W (5-1)

VS. WASHINGTON:
Last five meetings (3-1-1)
Mar. 29, 2023 Capital One Arena W (SO), 2-1
Mar. 16, 2023 UBS Arena L, 5-1
Jan. 16, 2023 UBS Arena L (OT), 4-3
Apr. 28, 2022 UBS Arena W, 5-1
Apr. 26, 2022 Capital One Arena W, 4-1

2022-23 1-1-1
Franchise History 103-104-13-17
NYI Home 57-51-2-9
NYI Away 46-53-11-8

SEASON SERIES
DATE LOCATION RESULT/TIME
Jan. 16, 2023 UBS Arena L (OT), 4-3
Mar. 16, 2023 UBS Arena L, 5-1
Mar. 29, 2023 Capital One Arena W (SO), 2-1
Apr. 10, 2023 Capital One Arena 7:00pm

TEAM NOTES
TONIGHT’S MATCHUP
Tonight, the New York Islanders visit the Washington Capitals in the fourth and final meeting between the two clubs this season. The last time these teams met was March 29, when Pierre Engvall scored a goal and Kyle Palmieri potted the game-deciding goal in a 2-1 shootout win at Capital One Arena. Tonight’s matchup is the final Metropolitan Division matchup and final road game of the Islanders’ 2022-23 regular season slate. They will look to improve to 18- 17-6 when they are the visiting team this season.

SHUTOUT
The Islanders recorded their eighth team shutout of the season on Saturday night against the Philadelphia Flyers, a 4-0 decision at UBS Arena. They passed Boston (seven) for sole posession of second-most in the league (Carolina, nine). Six of the Islanders’ eight shutouts this season have occurred on home ice. Islanders netminder Ilya Sorokin turned aside all 27 shots he faced in the victory. It was Sorokin’s sixth shutout of the season, leading the NHL, and one shy of his career-high (seven) posted in the 2021-22 campaign.

THE THIRD
The Islanders have outscored opponents 33-11 in the third period through their last 23 games. Their 22-goal differential in the third frame leads the NHL in any period in that span, and their 33 goals in the third period are third-most in the league in the final frame since February 17 (Ottawa, New Jersey).

COMEBACKS
The Islanders have won nine games this season when trailing at some point in the third period, and have won eight games when trailing after two periods, tied for the league-lead (Vancouver). March 21’s win against the Toronto Maple Leafs was the 19th time this season the Islanders captured a win after trailing at any point during the game, and they are 15-19-3 when allowing the opening goal.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:

LAST GAME
Washington 2, Florida Panthers 4
April 8, 2023 * Capital One Arena * Washington, DC
Shots: WSH: 24; FLA: 37
Power Plays: WSH: 0/3; FLA: 1/4
Three Stars: 1. Tkachuk (FLA), 2. Wilson (WSH), 3. Lindgren (WSH)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Recalled forward Beck Malenstyn from AHL Hershey, 4/7
Signed goaltender Mitchell Gibson to a one-year NHL entry-level contract, 4/7
Re-assigned forward Ludwig Persson from BIK Karlskoga (Sweden-2) to the AHL Hershey, 4/7
Signed goaltender Mitchell Gibson to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO), 4/2

INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Carl Hagelin: 10/12/22-4/8/23 (79 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-4/8/23 (75 games)
T.J. Oshie: 10/31/22-11/19/22, 12/19/22-12/31/22, 4/2/23-4/8/23 (20 games)
Trevor van Riemsdyk: 4/2/23-4/8/23 (3 games)
Anthony Mantha: 2/12/23, 2/23/23-2/26/23, 4/6/23-4/8/23 (6 games)
Alex Ovechkin: 1/21/23, 3/14/23, 4/8/23 (3 games)
Marcus Johansson: 2/25/23-2/26/23 (2 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12/22-1/6/23, 1/26/23-2/16/23 (49 games)
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12/22-1/6/23, 1/24/22 (43 games)
Washington Capitals: Media Notes
Dmitry Orlov: 11/7/22-12/9/22 (16 games)
Erik Gustafsson: 12/11/22 (1 game)
Lars Eller: 12/13/22 (1 game)
Hunter Shepard: 12/17/22 (1 game)
Alex Alexeyev: 12/11/22-12/19/22 (5 games)
Beck Malenstyn: 11/3/22-12/27/22 (26 games)
Nic Dowd: 12/17/22, 1/17/23-2/18/23 (13 games)
Martin Fehervary: 12/5/22-12/29/22, 3/4/23-3/9/23 (15 games)
Nick Jensen: 3/4/23-3/9/23, 3/19/23 (5 games)
John Carlson: 10/31/22-11/9/22, 12/27/22-3/21/23 (42 games)
Sonny Milano: 12/15/22, 3/14/23-3/15/23, 3/25/23-3/30/23 (6 games)
Darcy Kuemper: 12/5/22-12/17/22, 3/19/23-3/21/23 (9 games)
Man Games Lost: 420

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
April 11, 7 p.m. ET at Boston (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)
April 13, 7 p.m. ET vs. New Jersey (NBCSW, 106.7 The Fan/Caps Radio 24/7)

TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals host the New York Islanders on Monday at Capital One Arena for the fourth and final meeting between the teams this season. The Capitals have earned at least one point in all three games versus the Islanders this season (2-0-1). Washington overcame a three-goal deficit to defeat the Islanders 4-3 in overtime on Jan. 16, marking the Capitals’ largest comeback win of the season. On March 11, the Capitals scored five unanswered goals en route to a 5-1 win at UBS Arena. New York defeated Washington 2-1 in the shootout in their last meeting on March 29 at Capital One Arena. The Capitals are 121-96-13-7 all-time versus New York and 10-4-1 in their last 15 games against the Islanders dating back to the 2020-21 season. In addition, the Capitals are 5-1-1 in their last seven games against the Islanders at home.

HOME vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Record Goals For Goals Against Streak
61-42-11-4 364 347 2 NYI wins (4/26/22-3/29/23)

CAPITALS vs. NEW YORK ISLANDERS ALL-TIME (Career Totals)
Games Goals Assists Points
Ovechkin (67) Ovechkin (42) Backstrom (45) Ovechkin (65)
Backstrom (62) Oshie (17) Carlson/Ovechkin (23) Backstrom (58)
Carlson (51) Backstrom (13) Kuznetsov (19) Oshie (34)

TOP CAPS FACTS
Quick Hits

  • Charlie Lindgren made 33 saves on Saturday vs. Florida, including 16 in the third period. Lindgren’s 16 third-period saves marked the second-most saves by a Capitals goaltender in a third period this season (Darcy Kuemper: 19 saves Oct. 20 at OTT).
  • Martin Fehervary skated a career-high 26:19 on Saturday vs. Florida. Fehervary has averaged 19:52 of ice time per game this season, surpassing last season’s average of 19:39.
  • Fehervary’s 208 hits this season lead the Capitals and rank tied for 21st in the NHL.
  • The Capitals have a +5 goal differential in three games versus the Islanders this season (10 GF, 5 GA).

Special Teams

  • Over their last 11 games, the Capitals have converted on nine of 33 power-play opportunities (27.3 percent) and have killed off 25 of 30 opposing power plays (83.3 percent).
  • The Capitals have converted on 17 of 71 power-play opportunities (23.9 percent) since Feb. 16 and own the ninth-highest power-play percentage in the NHL in that span.
  • Seven different Capitals have scored on the man advantage during the 22-game stretch (Ovechkin: 4 PPG; Oshie: 4 PPG; Nicklas Backstrom: 4 PPG; Tom Wilson: 2 PPG; Sonny Milano: 1 PPG; Evgeny Kuznetsov: 1 PPG; John Carlson: 1 PPG).
  • This season, the Capitals’ 82.7 penalty kill percentage ranks sixth in the NHL, through games played April 8.
  • On average, the Capitals are shorthanded 2.77 times per game, which is the fifth-lowest rate in the League.
  • Washington’s +28 net penalty differential this season ranks fifth in the NHL, through games played April 8.