2/20: New York at Washington 7pm FSN

New York Islander Fan Central | 2/20/2008 12:26:00 PM | |
Islanders website: Has the preview of tonight's game against the Washington Capitals.

Washington Times: Corey Masisak reports Viktor Kozlov spent some time on the top line with Ovechkin and Backstrom and his season-long goal scoring slump ended with eight in the past 14 and now he has moved to the second line to help generate more secondary scoring, while Tomas Fleischmann has scored a goal in each of his two games on the top line with
Ovechkin and Backstrom.

Capitals Out: C Michael Nylander (torn rotator cuff), RW Chris Clark (groin), D Brian Pothier (concussion). Probable: D Tom Poti (bruised thigh), C David Steckel (illness).

Aaron Johnson will be paired with Drew Fata for tonight's game. Kolzig-DiPietro is expected to be the matchup in goal. Blake Comeau will play for the Isles.

NYI Fan Central Comments:
This is where we find out if this group is satisfied with four wins or is ready to step up and show itself they are capable of more.

The four game winning streak has put them in position where they are close enough to a playoff spot that it's not a must game overall, but in the long run trying to get into the playoffs as the fifth place team in one division is asking a lot with all the head to head games in the Southeast and so many teams bunched up in the standings.

Isles also need a far better overall effort than we saw against San Jose with a lot more skating and quickness from the forwards. Powerplay against Sharks was a disaster and cannot go into another tailspin.

No Gervais, Witt, Campoli or Sutton on the backline. A lot is being asked of this group but it is their chance to step up and prove they can help this team.

Isles have a win at Washington in a game Kolzig was terrible, an overtime win at home on a Richard Park goal and an early season loss where Washington did not get many shots and won a close game.

We'll see if the Isles are satisfied with four wins in a row or ready to show the character past teams did not. We all know Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin are the core of a very good team that can dominate on any given night.