Wed Apr 16 00:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Capitals and Islanders Face Off With Altered Lineups Due to Injuries and Scratches
**Washington, D.C. –** The Washington Capitals and the New York Islanders will clash tonight with significantly altered lineups due to a spate of injuries and healthy scratches. Several key players are sidelined for both teams, impacting their respective strategies.
For the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin will be centering a line with Dylan Strome and Anthony Beauvillier, while other notable lineup changes are also in effect. The absence of several players, including Aliaksei Protas (lower body), Logan Thompson (upper body), and Sonny Milano (upper body), necessitated the call-up of goalie Zach Stevenson from the AHL. Additionally, Alex Alexeyev, John Carlson, and Ethen Frank are scratched from the game. The Capitals also report that the team will make several game-time decisions.
The Islanders are also dealing with significant absences. Mathew Barzal (lower body) and Semyon Varlamov (lower body) are both injured and out of the lineup. Scott Perunovich, Adam Boqvist, Mike Reilly, Anthony Duclair, and Tristan Lennox are healthy scratches. Ryan Pulock will return to the lineup after sustaining an illegal check to the head in a previous game.
Both teams will be looking to overcome these lineup challenges in tonight’s crucial matchup.