Game Preview 4/1

Tonight, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals take on the struggling New York Islanders. So what are the chances that Ovechkin takes another small step towards 895?

The Islanders have allowed 244 goals this season, 5th worst in the NHL. In three games against the Islanders this season, Ovechkin has scored 5 times.

12/4/08: Ovechkin's power play goal in the first period sparked a 5-2 win in Washington

12/16/08: Ovechkin puts the Caps up 4-2 late in the second period. After the Islanders tie, #8 sniped a feed from Nicklas Backstrom with only 10.7 seconds remaining for the winner

1/19/09: Two power play goals, including the winner in OT, provide Washington all the offense they'll need in a 2-1 win.

Ovechkin scored 8 goals in March, including two in his last game. He's partiularly dangerous on Wednesdays, having scored nine goals in seven games.

32 of Ovechkin's goals have come in 36 home games, and the Islanders are far and away the worst road team in the NHL at 9-26-3. This smells like a Capitals win,

Prediction: 4-1 Caps win, Ovechkin puts in two more. With 6 games remaining, Ovechkin needs seven goals to hit 60 for the 2nd year in a row. I say he gets there and it starts tonight.