(My Sportsbook) - The Southeast Division-leading Washington Capitals will aim for a third straight victory when they visit the lowly New York Islanders for today's matinee at Nassau Coliseum.

The Capitals are first in the Southeast and second in the Eastern Conference with 61 points on the year. Washington picked up some ground in the conference race its last time out, beating East leaders Boston in Saturday's home test.

Washington had lost three in a row before winning in Pittsburgh on Wednesday and notching the close win over the visiting Bruins. Alexander Semin netted the game-winning goal with 8:12 to play in regulation as the Capitals nipped Boston, 2-1, at Verizon Center.

Mike Green had the other tally for the Capitals, while Jose Theodore stopped 23 shots for the win, his eighth in 10 starts.

Today's test marks the start of a three-game road trip for the Capitals, who will visit Ottawa on Tuesday before making a stop in Boston following the All- Star break on January 27.

The Islanders come into tonight's contest riding a seven-game losing streak and they have won just two games since the start of December, going 2-17-2 in their last 21 tilts. New York has still yet to record a win in the 2009 calendar year and last gained a point in the standings with a win on December 31 against Florida.

New York is by far the worst team in the Eastern Conference this year with just 28 points. Ottawa and Atlanta are the next worst teams with 37 points.

The Isles were handed their most recent loss Saturday by the visiting New Jersey Devils. Zach Parise registered a goal and an assist, leading Jersey to a 3-1 win at Nassau Coliseum.

Blake Comeau had the lone goal and Yann Danis stopped 33 shots for the woeful Islanders.

It has been a revolving door in the crease for the Isles, with injuries to Rick DiPietro (knee) and Joey MacDonald (groin). New York agreed to terms with Wade Dubielewicz last week to help its injury-riddled netminding corps, but Dubielewicz, who had been playing in Russia, had to clear waivers in order to suit up for the Isles. Dubielewicz played parts of four seasons with New York through the end of the 2007-08 campaign.

However, the Columbus Blue Jackets snatched Dubielewicz off waivers on Saturday, forcing New York to recall Peter Mannino from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League to serve as the backup.

Danis is expected to start today's contest with Mannino serving as the backup.

The Isles have dropped the first three games of a five-game homestand that ends Wednesday against the Anaheim Ducks. New York is just 7-12-2 as the host this season.

Washington is 2-0 against the Islanders this season, but the Isles have still taken five of the last eight encounters between the clubs. The Caps have dropped six of their last eight stops on Long Island.