Update: Christopher Gibson will make his first career NHL start tonight.
The Islanders can clinch their second straight playoff berth with a win against the Capitals in Washington tonight. If they failed to defeat the Presidents' Trophy winners tonight they can still clinch with a Bruins regulation loss against the Carolina Hurricanes in Boston.
The question is whether the Isles clinch before losing another defenseman. Calvin de Haan did not make the trip to DC after suffering a lower-body injury in the first period last night against the Lightning. de Haan suffered the injury, how else, by blocking a shot. He struggled to skate off the ice and into the locker room during the first period. Like a true hockey player he returned during the second period but did not for the third.
Brian Strait will likely make his return tonight. Strait will join Marek Zidlicky and Ryan Pulock as the bottom three defensemen. Pulock was an assist short of a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick". Scott Mayfield was recalled from Bridgeport on an emergency basis.
Now let's get to Jack Capuano. We have seen a different side of the Islanders head coach over the past week. Is it a sign of panic? Does he see the writing on the wall?First, he mentions how the team doesn't get enough credit due to their injuries this season and yesterday he called out Ryan Strome, Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. Something he never has done publicly. Capuano said that the trio needs "to pick their s--t up." It was a move that worked last night as Nelson found out how to pick his you know up. The others, eh.
For some strange reason the Islanders fare better on the back end of a back-to-back, going 8-2-3 and 5-1-3 when their opponents are rested and the Isles are not. New York is 0-2-1 against the Capitals this season.
Braden Holtby will start for the Caps. The likely Vezina winner is one win away from tying Martin Brodeur's single-season record of 48. Holtby has owned the Isles going 10-1-2 with a 2.08 GAA in the regular season. He simply doesn't lose at home. Holtby is 22-1-1 with 2.03 GAA
Capuano will give an update on de Haan and the lineup at 4:45 today.