The Washington Capitals are 3-for-3 during their current homestand, but they still have one more game to go at the friendly confines of Verizon Center as the New York Islanders pay a visit Tuesday.
Sunday, the Caps defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 behind 43 saves from Tomas Vokoun. Vokoun is in the midst of a nine-game start streak, the most for a Washington goaltender in about five years. Vokoun has been in goal for the Caps' last seven wins.
Someone, however, who has not been in the lineup recently is Mike Green. Monday, the team announced that Green will undergo abdominal surgery and will miss four to six weeks.
Sunday's win propelled the Caps into first place in the Southeast Division for the first time since mid-November, but the Florida Panthers regained that spot Tuesday in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins. The Caps' fourth straight win Tuesday would put them back on top.
The Islanders, on the other hand, find themselves in 14th place in the Eastern Conference and a 3-1 loss to the Nashville Predators Monday did not help that. New York will be the fourth consecutive opponent for Washington that will be on the second game of a back-to-back set.