Game Preview: Islanders at Capitals

NEW YORK ISLANDERS (38-28-9) VS WASHINGTON CAPITALS (34-32-8)
7:30 PM ET | CAPITAL ONE ARENA
WATCH: TNT
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 103.9FM | 1050AM
The New York Islanders are looking to stay ahead in the Wild Card chase when they take on the Washington Capitals on Wednesday at Capital One Arena.
The Islanders are coming off an important 5-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Monday night. Kyle Palmieri (2G, 1A), Pierre Engvall, Bo Horvat (ENG) and Zach Parise (ENG) scored for the Islanders, while Erik Haula (SHG) scored the lone goal for the Devils. The win snapped a two-game winless skid for New York.

"I thought we played a complete game tonight," Casey Cizikas said after the win. "We came out hungry, that was the biggest thing. Especially after this weekend, we weren't happy with ourselves and the way we played, so we got off to a good start."
The Capitals have been off for three days after a 4-3 regulation loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday. Pittsburgh built a 3-0 lead and carried it into the third period, but goals from Tom Wilson, Alex Ovechkin and Dylan Strome (1G, 1A) tied the game at three apiece. Evgeni Malkin prevented overtime and scored for the Penguins with 1:20 left in the game to leave the Capitals empty-handed.
The Islanders hold the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference with 85 points (73 games played), while the Capitals are sitting out of playoff position with 76 points through 74 games played. The Isles trail the Caps 0-1-1 in the season series and are 1-4-1 in their last six trips to DC.
The Detroit Red Wings did the Islanders a favor on Tuesday night by putting away the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-4, keeping the Penguins stuck at 82 points in the second wild card spot. The Isles lead the Pens by three points in the standings, though Pittsburgh has a game in hand. The Islanders are six points clear of the Florida Panthers (79 games), though the Cats hold a game in hand.

ISLANDERS NOTES:

• The Islanders have seven games left in the regular season - four on the road and three at home - and are currently fourth in the Metropolitan Division. All three teams in front of the Islanders in the division (Carolina, New Jersey, Rangers) have clinched playoff spots. The Isles' magic number is 11, meaning a combination of points won by the Islanders or points lost by whomever ends up as the 9th place team in the Eastern Conference, would clinch a playoff spot. Currently the Isles' magic number is 11 when looking at both Buffalo and Florida who can both max out at 95 points.
• Kyle Palmieri recorded a three-point night in Monday's 5-1 win over the Devils, burying two goals (including the game-winner) and a helper in the win. Palmieri has eight points (4G, 4A) in seven career games against his former club since joining the Islanders.
"Palmieri is playing some excellent hockey out there," Cizikas said of his teammate. "He's creating a lot, putting the puck in the back of the net and playing strong."
Since Feb. 18, Palmieri is tied with Brock Nelson for the team lead with 13 points. Palmieri has 10 points in his last six games.
• With 49 points (27G, 22A) on the season, Anders Lee is one shy of his fourth career 50-point season.
• Ilya Sorokin stopped 29-of-30 shots on Monday, allowing one or fewer goals for the 20th time this season.
• Adam Pelech skated a team-high 25:02 on Monday, recording four blocks and a hit. The 28-year-old defenseman earned praise from Head Coach Lane Lambert.
"That was one of the best hockey games I've seen him play," Lambert said. "He was outstanding tonight. He defended well. He was on top of his game and he's been on top of his game here for the last little while."
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GAME EXTRAS
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Isles History
• Of the four goals Pierre Engvall scored as an Islander, three of them were the opening goal, including his ice-breaking tally in Monday's 5-1 win over the Devils.
• With a shorthanded goal on Monday, Zach Parise has 21 goals in his 18th NHL season and has two shorthanded goals in consecutive seasons for the first time in his career.
• Bo Horvat snapped an 11-game scoreless drought on Monday with an empty net goal.
• Matt Martin is second in the NHL in hits (274).

CAPITALS NOTES:

• The Capitals have eight games left in the regular season, with five home games and three road games ahead of them before they conclude the season on Apr. 13 against New Jersey.
• Alex Ovechkin leads the Capitals with 72 points (42G, 30A) through 68 games played in his 18th NHL season. Ovechkin buried his 42nd goal of the season on Saturday to extend his goal streak to four games while also extending his point streak to six games (6G, 4A).
• Tom Wilson netted a goal on Saturday and has five points (1G, 4A) in his last four games.
• Dylan Strome racked up 20 points (6G, 14A) in his previous 14 games, including a goal and an assist on Saturday. With 57 points (18G, 39A) on this season, Strome is one point shy of setting a new career-high in points. The 26-year-old's career-best 57 points came in the 2018-19 season, split between the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks.
• Defenseman Rasmus Sandin, who was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline, has 12 points (1G, 11A) in 11 games since joining the Caps. Sandin had 20 points (4G, 16A) in 52 games with Toronto.
• Sonny Milano is day-to-day with an upper-body injury, missing Saturday's matchup with the Penguins and also Monday's practice. Per Head Coach Peter Laviolette, the 26-year-old winger is making progress but is unsure about when his return to the lineup will be.
• The Capitals have a record of 17-14-5 on home ice this season.