Open thread: Capitals at Islanders

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 5: Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin (8) returns to the ice after an injury to see action against the New York Islanders on November 5, 2013 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post)

Back on Nov. 5 the Capitals claimed a 6-2 win over the Islanders at Verizon Center. (Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post)

Braden Holtby (11-8-1, 2.68 GAA, .923 save percentage) gets the nod in the Capitals’ first visit to Long Island this season. New York will go with Anders Nilsson, who is making his first NHL start since March 10, 2012. Nilsson’s made one appearance this season, a 35-minute relief effort against the Flyers on Nov. 23 in which he stopped all but one of the 13 shots he faced.

Discuss the game right here and pass the time before puck drop with these reads.

Orlov to make season debut Saturday | Greenberg: Plus/Minus can be deceiving

Last time out: Caps overcome bugaboos vs Montreal | Five thoughts on the win

Neuvirth injured | Holtby shines on short notice

Faceoff: 7 p.m., Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum
TV: CSN+| Radio: 106.7 FM

Here is the Capitals’ lineup.

Forwards
Johansson-Backstrom-Ovechkin
Fehr-Grabovski-Brouwer
Chimera-Beagle-Ward
Volpatti-Erat-Wilson

Defense
Alzner-Green
Schmidt-Carlson
Orlov-Strachan

Goal: Holtby, Grubauer.
Scratches:  Michal Neuvirth (right leg), Brooks Laich (lower-body), Alex Urbom and Steve Oleksy.
LTIR: Jack Hillen (fractured tibial plateau), John Erskine (knee).

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In NHL, plus-minus rating can be deceiving