Week 15 is when the schedule turns for the Washington Capitals. With their season series against both the Buffalo Sabres and New Jersey Devils complete, the last few weeks will be devoted to playoff-eligible teams or teams that have some playoff hopes remaining. It is a difficult stretch that will either leave the Caps playoff-ready with this trial by fire, or it will leave them spent as they head into the second season. Fortunately, the first week of this difficult stretch is a lighter workload week with only one opponent and two games on the docket.
The Opponents
New York Islanders (Thursday and Saturday/7:00pm at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum)
The Caps play the first two of a three-game set against the Islanders that constitutes the entire scheduled for the Caps in Week 15.