(SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Islanders have lost ground in the NHL playoff race during a five-game slide and the club may have more bad news coming down the pike. But first, the struggling club hopes to avoid a sixth consecutive setback on Tuesday when it visits the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center. Watch the Islanders vs. Capitals live tonight on TSN2 at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt. In addition to posting an 0-4-1 record during its current slide, the Isles are also having difficulty convincing winger Thomas Vanek to stay with the club and New York may wind up trading the Austrian winger. According to a report Monday in Newsday, Vanek, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July, has turned down a "substantial contract offer" from the Isles. The report also says New York general manager Garth Snow is fielding offers from teams looking to acquire the 30-year-old forward. Vanek was acquired from Buffalo in a trade on Oct. 27 and he has 15 goals and 38 points in 41 games with the Islanders after becoming part of a formidable top line with John Tavares and Kyle Okposo. If Vanek is dealt by the Isles, it will turn out to be a costly rental for the club. New York sent winger Matt Moulson to the Sabres along with a first-round pick in this summers draft as well as a second-rounder in 2015 to land Vanek. The NHL trade deadline for this season is March 5. The Islanders went 10-3-0 from Dec. 29-Jan. 21 before losing five in a row. The clubs last two losses came against the rival New York Rangers, who posted a 2-1 regulation win over the Isles in last Wednesdays outdoor game at Yankee Stadium before notching a 4-1 home win Friday night at Madison Square Garden. Derick Brassard and Brad Richards scored less than three minutes apart in the third period to support a strong effort from Henrik Lundqvist in the Rangers win over the Isles at MSG. Okposo had the lone score for the struggling Islanders, while Evgeni Nabokov stopped 33-of-36 chances in defeat. "We just looked like we ran out of gas," Tavares said. "We just didnt seem to have that extra gear when we needed it." With 50 points, the Isles are currently 13th out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference and 12 points out of a playoff spot. Including tonights tilt, New York has three games left before the NHL breaks for the Winter Olympics. After visiting Washington on Tuesday, the Isles will host Calgary and Colorado on Thursday and Saturday, respectively. After losing seven in a row from Jan. 12-24, Washington has recorded three wins over its last five games and is 3-1-1 during that stretch. The Capitals split a home-and-home series with Detroit over the weekend, losing Fridays road portion against the Red Wings 4-3 in a shootout before taking Sundays wild 6-5 overtime decision at the Verizon Center. Alex Ovechkin scored a power-play goal 2:37 into overtime to lift the Capitals to Sundays entertaining matinee battle in D.C. Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith was called for tripping at the 1:26 mark of the extra session. The Capitals moved the puck around and John Carlson fed Ovechkin for a one-timer from the left circle. Ovechkin has scored seven times over his last nine games and he is leading the NHL with 39 goals. His next goal will give Ovechkin 40 or more markers in a season for the sixth time in his career and for the first time since he posted 50 in 2009-10. Joel Ward registered two goals and one assist on Sunday and Jason Chimera added a goal and two helpers for the Capitals, who overcame blowing a trio of two-goal leads to win for the third time in their last 12 games. "We came out great and they never gave up; they are a really good hockey team," said Washington head coach Adam Oates. Michal Neuvirth picked up the win despite surrendering five goals on 30 shots. The Capitals expect to be without defenseman Mike Green for a third straight game after he suffered a concussion last week against Columbus. Green tried to practice on Monday, but he left for the dressing room after 10 minutes. Washington forwards Mikhail Grabovski (sprained left ankle), Brooks Laich (groin), Eric Fehr (lower body) and Aaron Volpatti (upper body) are also questionable for tonights contest. The Caps, who are three points out of a playoff spot in the East, are 2-0 against the Islanders this season and have won three straight and five of the past seven games in this series. Washington is 8-2-1 in the past 11 encounters in D.C. Cheap Baseball Jerseys Online . Monta Ellis had 30 points and nine assists, Nowitzki was another of seven Dallas players in double figures with 11 points and the Mavericks beat the Los Angeles Lakers 123-104 Tuesday night. Cheap MLB Jerseys USA .Y. -- When the New York Islanders lead was cut in half in the opening minute of the third period, the sense of impending doom began wafting through Nassau Coliseum. http://www.chinajerseysmlb.com/. The game got off to a less-than-ideal start for the Jets as Oliver Ekman-Larsson found a wide open net from the slot and opened the scoring for the Coyotes a lead in the first period, but Olli Jokinen answered back just over half a minute later. Discount Baseball Jerseys .ca presents a week long look at some of the teams and stories that will shape the up coming campaign. MLB Jerseys For Sale . The Kelowna, B.C. rink made the announcement on their facebook page on Thursday night.INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel had tried just about everything to find a viable fill-in for injured starting point guard George Hill.But no one runs the Indiana offence quite like the Hill. And on Tuesday night, Hill provided an immeasurable impact for the Pacers in his season debut.After missing the first 28 games with a left knee contusion, Hill had a team-high 15 points, four rebounds and three assists in 21 minutes to lead the Pacers to a 96-84 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.The Pacers finally have their floor general back. And hes still that humble Indianapolis native.I did not try to put any pressure on (myself) like that, Hill said. Just make a play when you need to make a play. I didnt worry about how many points I scored or how many rebounds or assists. I just tried to focus on playing each play hard and trying to win the game.On a night when the Pacers offence flowed as well as it has at any point this season, Hills ability to control the games flow — and his teammates production — made all the difference.Indiana (10-19) finished with six players scoring in double figures thanks in large part to Hills ability to get everyone involved in the offence. All night, the Pacers were willing to make the extra pass to get a better shot. And their passes seemed crisper Tuesday. Things just seemed easier on offence with Hill guiding the way against New Orleans (14-14).George coming back makes a big difference, Miles said. He runs the offence and he gets guys where they need to be and putting them to their strengths.David West and Solomon Hill each finished with 13 points. Roy Hibbert scored 14 points and tied a season-high with seven blocks. CJ Miles added 11 points and six rebounds off the bench for the Pacers. C.J. Watson, who started at point guard for Indiana on Tuesday, scored 10 points.While the end result was Hill providing a much-needed boost, he did have to knock off some rust.dddddddddddd His first two passes were bobbled by teammates and he finished the game with two turnovers.Early in the fourth quarter, Hill awkwardly finished a 2-on-1 breakaway with Miles after bobbling what would have been an attempt at a lob to Miles toward the rim. Hill kept the ball within his reach despite losing control and cautiously guided the ball onto the backboard for a layup.He looked great out there, Vogel said. He made a lot of heady offensive plays. He just played a great basketball game at both ends.Indiana kept Anthony Davis in check for much of the game. Averaging 24.7 points per game Davis finished with 21 points and nine rebounds, but struggled on the defence.Davis said he wasnt surprised by his own struggles, considering the Pacers have the NBAs third-best scoring defence.We knew coming in they were a physical team and that they were going to push us around, Davis said. We have to learn how to be more physical, and be consistent after a good win.Tyreke Evans finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds - all of which were on the defensive end. Jrue Holiday added 16 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Pelicans.After losing eight straight games, the Pacers are 3-2 in their last five games and won have won back-to-back games for the first time in more than a month.____TIP-INSPACERS: Point guard George Hill made his season debut against New Orleans after missing the first 28 games of the season with a left knee contusion.PELICANS: Former University of Kentucky star and current MVP candidate Anthony Davis received a rousing ovation during the introduction of starting lineups. Rupp Arena, home of Kentucky basketball, is 188 miles from Indianapolis.UP NEXTIndiana plays at Detroit on Friday.New Orleans hosts San Antonio on Friday. ' ' '