Update, 12:40 p.m.: Coach Dale Hunter wouldn't say which goaltender will face the scuffling Islanders, losers three straight. Tomas Vokoun left the ice curiously early this morning, but Hunter insisted that the veteran is not hurt. Michal Neuvirth left the ice a few minutes later -- after going through the stretching routine he does on morning's when he starts. Take that for what it's worth.
The Caps just hit the ice here at Nassau Coliseum and the players just went through rushes. The lines and pairings looked familiar.
Forwards
Johansson-Laich-Ovechkin
Chimera-Perreault-Semin
Hendricks-Beagle-Brouwer
Knuble-Aucoin-Ward
Defense
Alzner-Carlson
Schultz-Wideman
Hamrlik-Orlov
It’s unclear who will start in net, but as I mentioned yesterday, Michal Neuvirth is 4-0-0 in his career against the Islanders. He’s also coming off a 23-save shutout of the Maple Leafs.
Based on rushes, it also looks like Jeff Halpern and John Erskine will be out again. Mike Green, meantime, will be serving the final game of a three-game suspension.
From the Islanders’ room, Evgeni Nabokov will start in net and second-leading scorer PA Parenteau is out with an upper-body injury he suffered against the Rangers.
I’ll have another update once the skate wraps up.
