Rather, the latest third-period implosion, which led to a 5-4 overtime loss to the Capitals, put into a starker reality that the Islanders are not merely behind the league’s typical Cup contenders, but another club that has been accused of hanging onto a core too long — and this without the injured Alex Ovechkin on the ice.

Here are the projected lines vs. the Islanders based off the last two games, as D.C. has been able to find its offense without Alex Ovechkin: - Tom Wilson ended a 12-game goal drought last game and has points in three of his last four outings.