NYHN Daily: Islanders Must Take Last Game Against Capitals, Lineup Changes & More

The New York Islanders are in Washington D.C. as they look to take the finale of this three-game set. After losing the first two, this game is a must-win for the Islanders. Head coach Barry Trotz stated there will be lineup changes. These stories and more on today’s daily links!

To say that the New York Islanders need to win on Tuesday may come across as an even more obvious statement than saying water is wet. Yet here we are, the Islanders need to come away with a win against the Washington Capitals to close out the three-game set. (NYI Hockey Now)

Lineup changes are coming to the New York Islanders and no line is safe, not even the team’s top line. Head coach Barry Trotz told reporters after practice on Monday that he was looking at moving some of the lines around for Tuesday’s series finale with the Washington Capitals. (NYI Hockey Now)

Getting inside the head of Islanders’ general manager Lou Lamoriello is no easy task. Arthur Staple had an idea: to interview other former general managers to get a gist of what Lou thought as he made his trade deadline moves. (The Athletic)

With eight games to go in the regular season, the Islanders have a few things left on their to-do list that need to be checked off.  The first is punching their ticket into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (NY Sportsday)

In a letter from Pittsburgh Penguins President David Morehouse to season ticket holders, the Penguins planned to include more fans at PPG Paints Arena. The Pennsylvania state government and the State Department of Health must approve the request. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

The Florida Panthers had hoped to officially clinch a playoff berth with a victory Monday night against the host Nashville Predators. Alas, it will have to wait another day. (Florida Hockey Now)

Egor Zamula is slated to make his NHL debut Tuesday for the Philadelphia Flyers. Cam York could do the same with Shayne Gostisbehere out of the lineup with a sprained MCL. (Philly Hockey Now)

Adrian Dater has his takeaways from Avalanche’s loss in St. Louis.  Maybe a matchup against the Wild is the best option now. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Last night, the San Jose Sharks snapped their eight-game losing streak as they defeated the Arizona Coyotes 6-4. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Carolina Hurricanes clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Monday. (NHL)

Connor McDavid scored his third hat trick of the season for the Edmonton Oilers, who passed the Winnipeg Jets for second place in the Scotia North Division with a 6-1 win at Bell MTS Place on Monday. (NHL)

Frederik Andersen said he’d like to play a game for the Toronto Maple Leafs before the end of the regular season after the goalie participated in a full practice for the first time in five weeks Monday. (NHL)

Alex Ovechkin remains day to day for the Washington Capitals, but coach Peter Laviolette expressed optimism that the forward’s lower-body injury would not linger into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. (NHL)

The Montreal Canadiens moved six points ahead of the Calgary Flames for fourth place in the Scotia North Division with a 2-1 win at Scotiabank Saddledome on Monday. (NHL)

The St. Louis Blues moved one point ahead of the Arizona Coyotes for fourth place in the Honda West Division after defeating the Avalanche 4-1. (NHL)

The Arizona Coyotes dropped to fifth place in the Honda West Division with a 6-4 loss to the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose on Monday. (NHL)

Joe Thornton has thrown his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame around the ice much more with the regular season winding down. Among the Leafs, only Wayne Simmonds (19) and Jake Muzzin (20) have more hits than Thornton (18) over the last seven games.  “He’s bringing some fire,” said Muzzin. (TSN)

For a second straight week, the Vegas Golden Knights sit atop our Power Rankings. The Golden Knights are coming off a perfect 4-0-0 week, outscoring the opposition 18 to seven in the process. Vegas has won nine straight overall and has a four-point cushion on the Colorado Avalanche for the top spot in the West Division. (TSN)