The Washington Capitals (23-16-6) head to take on the New York Islanders (23-18-3) at UBS Arena on Monday. Washington is coming off a 3-1 loss against the Flyers on Saturday. The Capitals committed five penalties in the game, conceding one power play goal. Alex Ovechkin was the only player to find the net for the Capitals.
Darcy Kuemper saved only 22 of 25 shots against (.880%) in the loss. New York beat the Canadiens 2-1 on Saturday. Anthony Beauvillier and Casey Cizikas both scored once for the Islanders. Ilya Sorokin was impressive in the win, making 22 saves (.956%).
HEAD TO HEAD
The teams split their four meetings last season, the last of which was a 5-1 victory for the Islanders in April. Mathew Barzal led New York with three points (0G 3A). Axel Jonsson-Fjallby scored Washington’s only goal. Semyon Varlamov got the win, saving 26 of 27 shots (.962%).
FACING OFF
Washington is averaging 3.20 goals per game for the season, 15th in the NHL, and they are taking on an Islanders team that is allowing only 2.66 goals a game (5th). Meanwhile, New York has found the net 3.02 times a game on average, 22nd in the league, and the Capitals are allowing opponents to score 2.76 goals per game (9th).
The Capitals’ 21.43% power play percentage ranks 17th in the league, while the Islanders are 27th with a conversion rate of 17.97%. When it comes to defending power plays, New York has the league’s eighth-ranked PK% at 82.58%, while Washington is 11th at 80.62%.
TOP PERFORMERS:
With 49 points this season, Ovechkin is the top skater for the Capitals. He is among the league leaders with 30 goals (4th) and has added 19 assists. In the net, Kuemper (12-10-4) is Washington’s top goaltender by goals against average.
He has a 2.52 GAA and a .919% save percentage. Barzal and Brock Nelson lead the Islanders in scoring with 41 and 39 points, respectively. Barzal has 11 goals and 30 assists in 43 games, while Nelson has 15 goals and 24 assists in 44 games.
Sorokin (14-14-2) has the best goals against average for New York at 2.29, fourth-best in the league. He has a save percentage of .926%, second-best.
HOME AND AWAY
Washington is 10-9-3 on the road this season. New York is 13-7-1 at UBS Arena this season.
SportsTips’ NHL Pick:
NY Islanders (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
