Islanders vs Capitals: It’s Been Awhile, Odds, Lineups, TV, and More

The New York Islanders are in D.C. tonight as they take on the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for shortly after 7:00 p.m.

It has been a while since these teams last faced off against each other. The last time these teams met was for a two-game series on January 26th and 28th.

The Capitals won both games of that series and the Islanders finished that road trip on a five-game losing streak, but a lot has changed since then.

The New York Islanders and Washington Capitals both bring big win streaks into tonight’s game

Coming into tonight, the Islanders are on a nine-game winning streak, while the Capitals have won their last five.

Last time out the Islanders won a wild game in New Jersey when they beat the Devils 3-2 in a shootout. The Capitals played yesterday in Buffalo and beat the Sabres 6-0.

Tale of the Tape

Odds

The Islanders come into today as the underdogs, courtesy of the Action network.

Tonight is the battle of the top two teams in the East and has all the makings of a great game to watch. The Islanders may still be without some of their mainstays, while the Capitals played last night in Buffalo.

There is no telling which way this rivalry game may go.

Projected Lineups

The Islanders received some great news yesterday. Jean-Gabriel Pageau is off the Covid protocol list and will be available to feature tonight. Unfortunately, as of when this article was published, Noah Dobson is still on the Covid list.

With that being said, we may see Barry Trotz keep Austin Czarnik in the lineup but he may be moved to the wing. Pageau is then projected to come in for Leo Komarov and he will slot in at center. With Czarnik staying in the lineup this gives the Islanders added depth at center.

Sebastian Aho looks set to be in the lineup for his second straight game as Dobson looks to be out for tonight’s clash. Aho picked up an assist in the win on Sunday.

Semyon Varlamov is projected to get the start in net after Ilya Sorokin picked up the shootout victory over the Devils.

The Islanders are projected to lineup like this:

Bellows-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Czarnik-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Pelech-Pulock
Leddy-Mayfield
Aho-Greene

Varlamov (Sorokin)

With no apparent injuries to the Capitals in last night’s game, it is projected that they will not make any changes to their forward lines or defensive pairings.

The Capitals are expected to dress seven defensemen and eleven forwards. Lars Eller has missed the past couple of games with an injury and Tom Wilson is still suspended.

Ilya Samsonov is projected to start tonight. Vanecek started yesterday and picked up his first career shutout in the win.

The Capitals are expected to lineup like this:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Oshie
Vrana-Kuznetsov-Sprong
Hagelin-Dowd-Hathaway
Sheary-Panik

Dillon-Carlson
Orlov-Schultz
Chara-Jensen
van Riemsdyk

Samsonov (Vanecek)

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Where to Catch the Game

TV: MSG+2, NBCSWA
Radio: 88.7FM 103.9FM
*All Stats Provided by the NHL*