41.3 – Percent of games between the Capitals and Islanders that have been decided by overtime or a shootout since the start of the 2005-06 season, highest of any Caps’ opponent over that span. Tonight’s two opponents have faced each other 46 times over the past 12 seasons, with 19 of those games requiring extra time.
Amazingly the last three games between the Caps and Islanders have all been decided in regulation (two wins for the Caps, one for the Isles) – that’s the longest such stretch since January 2010 to February 2011, when they had four straight regulation games (all wins for the Caps).
In fact, only three times since 2005-06 have they gone more than three games without an overtime or shootout, and only once since 2007-08. With or without the extra frame(s), the series has been remarkably close, with the Islanders holding a slight edge in terms of goals scored at 128 goals to the Caps’ 126… but the Caps have dominated overall, with a 27-13-6 record (and a 13-0-6 record in those overtime/shootout games).