GAMEDAY PREVIEW APRIL 6, 2019 at TIME: 7:00 ET TV: MSG+ RADIO: Radio.com, 88.7 FM and 103.9 WRCN 2018-19 SEASON STATS PLAYERS TO WATCH ISLANDERS CAPITALS JOSH BAILEY #12 47-27-7 (101 pts) RECORD 48-25-8 (104 pts) Islanders alternate , Josh Bailey recorded 2nd in Metro STANDINGS 1st in Metro his 40th assist of the season in Thursday’s win over SOW, 2-1 at FLA LAST GAME W, 2-1 vs MTL the Panthers in Sunrise. Bailey, 29, has reached NEXT GAME the 40-assist mark for the third straight season. TBA TBA The Bowmanville, ON native ranks second on the 14.6% (29th) POWER-PLAY 20.9% (9th) team in points (56) and assists (40) and will look to 79.9% (20th) KILL 78.8% (24th) become one of seven players to appear in all 82 games this season. SEASON SERIES BROCK NELSON #29 Nov. 26, 2018: WSH 4 at NYI 1 New York Islanders forward Brock Nelson, scored in regulation and added the only for either team Jan. 18, 2019: NYI 2 at WSH 0 in the shootout in New York’s win on Thursday in Mar. 01, 2019: WSH 3 at NYI 1 Florida. Nelson, 27, is one goal shy of matching his career-high set in 2015-16. The Warroad, MN native Apr. 06, 2019: Washington, DC is riding a three game point streak, one game shy of matching his season-high. TEAM LEADERS ISLANDERS CAPITALS NICKLAS BACKSTROM #19 LEE (28) GOALS OVECHKIN (51) In Washington’s win last Saturday over Tampa Bay BARZAL (44) ASSISTS CARLSON (57) alternate captain, Nicklas Backstrom became one of BARZAL (62) POINTS OVECHKIN (89) two active players in the NHL with four straight seasons of at least 20 goals and 50 assists (J. Thornton). Since MAYFIELD (68) PIM WILSON (128) entering the NHL in 2007, Backstrom’s 642 assists rank EBERLE & LEE (5) GWG BACKSTROM & OVECHKIN (5) first in the NHL over that time. The Gävle, SWE native PULOCK (22:23) TOI/G CARLSON (25:03) leads all players with four points (4A) in three games against the Islanders this season. THREE AT PLAYERS +21 +/- KEMPNY (+ 24) NEW YORK ISLANDERS QUICK FACTS TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The New York Islanders close out the regular season in the Nation’s Capital as they faceoff against the Metropolitan Division champion, Washington Capitals. The Islanders The New York Islanders need one point can secure home-ice advantage in the first round by earning at least one point (or a PIT in tonight’s game in Washington to clinch loss). The Islanders are 1-2-0 in the series with the Capitals this year. All three games home-ice advantage in the first round of have been won by the road team. the playoffs, something the team has not done since 1988. LAST TIME OUT: Brock Nelson scored the lone Islanders goal in regulation then added the game- 1 deciding goal in the fourth round of the shootout to help the Islanders surpass the 100-point mark this season. Thomas Greiss made 29 saves and stopped all four With the Islanders 2-1 shootout win over Panthers shooters in the shootout to earn his 23rd win of the season. Florida on Thursday, the team reached the 100-point mark for the 10th time in PLAYOFF SCENARIOS: franchise history. Their 101 points is tied for ther most since 2014-15. If the team Islanders will open the 2019 playoffs with either the Penguins can earn at least one point tongiht they or . If Pittsburgh earns any points on Saturday, it will be Islanders/ will reach their highest point total since Penguins in the first round. If PIT earns no points on Saturday and Carolina wins in 1983-84 (104 pts). any fashion, it will be the Islanders/Hurricanes in the first round. 10