New York Islanders

Put ‘Em Away, Islanders Game 76: Lines, Notes & Starting Goalies vs. Capitals

Published

1 year ago

March 29, 2023

New York Islanders game, Washington Capitals

The New York Islanders (38-28-9) can put away the Washington Capitals (34-32-8) Wednesday at Capital One Arena. The Islanders are no longer clinging to the top wild-card spot and can take a five-point lead on the Pittsburgh Penguins with a win. They could also take an 11-point lead over the Capitals with just seven games remaining.

The puck drops just after 7:30 p.m., though the game is on TNT, so the 7:30 puck drop is probably more a suggestion than a reality.

The Islanders pulled away from the New Jersey Devils on Monday. Nursing a 2-1 lead after two periods, the Islanders weathered the Devils’ third period push. Goalie Ilya Sorokin was outstanding, and Kyle Palmieri scored a pair of goals with one assist in the 5-1 win.

According to MoneyPuck, the Islanders have a 90% chance of making the playoffs.

The Capitals have been sinking. On Saturday, their raucous rally in Pittsburgh fell short. They trailed 3-0 midway through the third period but rallied to tie the game 3-3 before losing 4-3 in regulation when Evgeni Malkin scored a game-winning breakaway goal in the final 90 seconds.

The Capitals are 3-5-2 in their last 10 and have all but given up the ghost of making the playoffs.

Lane Lambert will turn to Sorokin again. Capitals coach Peter Laviolette may be in the final days of his Capitals’ tenure. He’ll likely put Darcy Kuemper in net.

Expected Islanders Lines:

Parise-Horvat-Fasching

Engvall-Nelson-Palmieri

Lee-Pageau-Holmstrom

Martin-Czikas-Clutterbuck

Defense:

Pelech-Mayfield

Romanov-Pulock

Bolduc-Dobson

Goalie:

Ilya Sorokin

Expected Capitals Lines, per PuckPedia.com:

Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson

Protas-Backstrom-Oshie

Mantha-Kuznetsov-Smith

Sheary–Dowd–Aube-Kubel

Defense:

Fehervary-Carlson

Sandin-Jensen

Alexeyev–van Riemsdyk

Goalie:

Darcy Kuemper

New York Islanders Game Notes:

It is the Islanders’ first visit to Capital One Arena since April 26, 2022.

The Islanders have points in five of their last six games.

Monday was for Palmieri. It was his third multipoint game in his last six games. Palmieri also scored his third game-winning goal of the season and a season-high seven shots on goal.

Zach Parise has five goals in his last six games. He also recorded his first four-game goal streak from Feb. 28 to March 5, 2020.

Scott Mayfield set a new career-high as he recorded his 16th assist of the season on Monday night against the Devils, his fourth assist in his last five games.