Game Preview: Islanders at Capitals

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (7-4-1) AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS (5-6-1)
7 PM CAPITAL ONE ARENA
TV: MSG+, MSG GO
Radio: 88.7FM - WRHU, 660AM, 101.9FM - WFAN
GAME NOTES MORNING SKATE UPDATES
Coming off a 7-4-1 October, the New York Islanders look to start November off on the right foot when they take on the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena (7 p.m., MSG+, MSG GO).
The Isles ended October on a high note, posting back-to-back six-goal games against the Nashville Predators and Vegas Golden Knights. Overall, the Islanders are 5-1-0 in their last six and have scored at least four goals in each of their last five games.

John Tavares, who is playing his 600th career game on Thursday, has keyed the Isles recent run, scoring two hat-tricks and eight goals overall in his last four games. Josh Bailey and Anders Lee are also riding lengthy point streaks, as the Islanders have consistently put the puck in the net.
As of Thursday the Islanders are above the Capitals in the Metropolitan Division standings, as the reigning Presidents Trophy winners are off to a 5-6-1 start. The Islanders won one of their two games in Washington last season, but the nation's capital has been a historically tough place for the Islanders to win. They've at least been able to take one point in Washington, going 5-6-5 in their last 16 games in DC.

LINEUP NOTES:

Jaroslav Halak will start in goal. Thomas Hickey returns to the lineup after missing two games as a healthy scratch. Adam Pelech is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, but Weight said he doesn't think it's serious.
ISLANDERS PROJECTED LINES:

BY THE NUMBERS:

7 - game point streak for Josh Bailey. Bailey has 12 points (2G, 10A) on his currently streak.
6 - game point streak for Anders Lee. Lee has 10 points (4G, 6A) on his streak.
11 - straight periods with a goal.The Islanders have lit the lamp in each of the last 11 periods.
600 - career games for John Tavares. The Isles captain has 552 points (246G, 306A) in 599 games during his NHL career - all with the Islanders.

THE OPPOSITION:

The reigning Presidents Trophy winners are off to a slow start this season, going 5-6-1 in their first 12 games. The Caps have lost three of their last four games and are returning back to Washington after playing three straight in Western Canada. That being said, the Capitals have lost three straight at home.
Alex Ovechkin (10G, 5A) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (3G, 12A) lead the Capitals with 15 points, while Nicklas Backstrom has 12 points (3G, 9A) to start the season. Braden Holtby is 5-3-0 this season with a 2.76 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
Matt Niskanen is out with a hand injury, while Andre Burakovsky is also out after undergoing thumb surgery.
CAPITALS PROJECTED LINES:
| FORWARDS | | --- | | LEFT WING | CENTER | RIGHT WING | | JAKUB VRANA | NICKLAS BACKSTROM | T.J. OSHIE | | ALEX OVECHKIN | EVGENY KUZNETSOV | DEVANTE SMITH-PELLY | | CHANDLER STEPHENSON | LARS ELLER | TOM WILSON | | NATHAN WALKER | JAY BEAGLE | ALEX CHIASSON |

| FORWARDS | | --- | | CHRISTIAN DJOOS | JOHN CARLSON | | BROOKS ORPIK | MADISON BOWEY | | DMITRY ORLOV | TAYLOR CHORNEY |