Almost at 500. (Caps Outsider)
The Caps return to the ice after a three day Christmas break to face the New York Islanders in Brooklyn on Tuesday. The Islanders have won two in a row, but lost the previous five. The Islanders currently sit at the bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
Something to watch for is whether or not Zach Sanford is in the lineup. The roster freeze will be over and he is eligible to be sent back down to Hershey, which has games on Wednesday (at Syracuse), Friday, and Saturday (both home). His time with Washington is considered “game to game.”
Despite their record, the Islanders are nothing to sleep on. If the Caps are not careful they can easily fall into this trap and lose the momentum they established after a 4-1 win over Tampa on Friday. Expect the Caps to come out strong and set the tone for the game.
Milestone watch: Nicklas Backstrom is three assists away from 500. Do not expect them to all come in this game, but be prepared as it may happen before the turn of the calendar.
