9:32 pm: A very exciting ending to this game as Holtby hit the bench leaving an empty net and the Caps with an extra skater. Kudos to Michael Grabner and Thomas Hickey tonight for shadowing Ovechkin.
Isles now with 33 points sitting in the 8th spot for the next few minutes until the Ranger game ends.
9:20 pm: The Isles kill off the penalty and then John Tavares scores the go-ahead goal on a pass from Matt Moulson. That is Moulson's 100th Assist point.
9:16 pm: Kyle Okposo is in disbelief as he is called for holding late in the third giving the Caps their third power play of the night. This is where the Isles usually break down.
8:34 pm: Oh for pete's sake! You had to know it would happen. It doesn't even matter how. Yeah, the Caps tied it up.
8:18 pm: The Capitals leading goal scorer, Mike Ribiero cuts the Isles lead in half 2 - 1 with a little more than 9 minutes left in the second.
He's not exactly an average looking hockey player is he....
8:12 pm: The Refs are at it again. First, a non-call on Hickey for a high stick to his face and then a hooking call on Nielsen on a face off where it was Frans that was taken down. Some days I don't know what they're looking at.
Good thing is the speed of Michael Grabner has now given the Islanders a power play chance for the Isles.
7:34 pm: Isles making a statement early in this game with Michael Grabner getting the first goal of the evening at only 5:24 of the first.
Josh Bailey would tally the second about two minutes later. That is a good start to the game.
Marty Reasoner still can't convert on his chances which has to be extremely frustrating to him. Hickey has been playing smart so far, which is nice to see. He did take a high stick to the face though. Hope he's oaky. Boyes, on the other hand, has had a few turnovers this period. That's not going to sit well with Jack Capuano. Perhaps it's time to move Boyes off that first line.
2:54 pm: Ohhh Steve WEBB!!!!
Support the Orange & Blue even while they're playing on the road! Join former Islanders player Steve Webb and your fellow Isles fans at T.G.I. Friday's – the Official Viewing Party Partner of the New York Islanders – for some great food and fun times! The Isles will host a viewing party tonight at the T.G.I. Friday's Huntington Station location at 100 Walt Whitman Road starting at 7:00pm.
In other news, the Sound Tigers have signed a local, Ben Rosen to a ATO. Nice!
12:19 pm: Yep, as expected. Same line-up as Sunday.
7 am: This team must love to travel as their record indicates. So let's see if they can grab two points in Washington from a team that sits with the same 31 points they do.
Washington was struggling early on but has since found a way to win. Ovechkin, who had been criticized repeatedly by the media, is not scoring goals again. The Capitals record for Goals Against is only 90 while the Isles is a whopping 105.
Key to the game? Play the way Jack Capuano has begged the Isles to play all along -- desperate. Win the battles, win the shifts, don't give up on the play and give up the body.
The Isles had yesterday off, sort of, as it was a travel day so expect to see Isles number one goal tender Nabokov back between the pipes. Art Staple of Newsday will give us the rest of the line up this afternoon as the Isles hit the ice for the morning skate.
Speaking of Artie, don't be disappointed in his article regarding the Isles lack of activity during the upcoming trade deadline. You had to expect it. There is no need to try to make deals now with so few games remaining and the idea of making the playoffs simply a wish you make on a birthday cake.
Besides, as Art points out, next year's Isles squad will be jam packed with young, talented prospects that have been developing nicely and could take the league by surprise. I personally am excited to see Brock Nelson in the NHL. I've also heard so much about Anders Lee for so many years, he should be someone to keep an eye on.
But for tonight, at 7 pm, all eyes should be on the Islanders and their top two lines. While Matt Moulson has a basketfull of assist points, I'm looking for more in that "G" column on the score sheet. Pretty sure he is too. But the number in the "W" column is really all that matters right now.
First of four, they need to make it count quickly.
Also, don't forget, tonight's TGIF viewing party is in Huntington. Stop by and meet some new friends.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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