2020 NHL Stanley Cup Series Review: (3) Washington Capitals vs. (6) New York Islanders
It was the team vs. the former coach, as the Washington Capitals faced off against the New York Islanders and Barry Trotz, the coach who led them to a Stanley Cup a few years ago. The coach ended up with the bragging rights in the end, as the Islanders surprised the favoured Capitals, winning the series in five games.
Games
New York Islanders - 4
Washington Capitals - 2
The animosity between these teams started early, and Anders Lee and John Carlson went at it after Lee interfered with Nicklas Backstrom. Moments later, a hit by Dmitri Orlov sparked a scrum, which led to Tom Wilson and Casey Cizikas getting offsetting roughing penalties. The first period didn't end overtly peaceful either, as later in the period Lee and Wilson would fight each other. Scoring-wise, the Capitals had the best chances while on the man advantage in the first, but it wasn't until the second when their powerplay would capitalize. Evgeny Kuznetsov's shot would be blocked, but it bounced off the boards behind the net and right to TJ Oshie, who had no problem finishing it. Oshie got another powerplay goal minutes later, as he poked the puck loose from Semyon Varlamov and into the net. Oshie wasn't just offense either, as later on he would clear the puck from the crease when Brayden Holtby was out of position. The Islanders managed to get one before the end of the period, as Jordon Eberle's shot form the top of the circles beat Holtby. It didn't take long for New York to tie the game in the third, as Lee would bury a rebound 51 seconds into the period. The Islanders special teams came through six minutes later, as some pressure on a penalty kill resulted in Josh Bailey snapped a pass form Brock Nelson into the Capitals net. New York extended their lead midway through the period, as a 3-on-2 was initially stopped, but Bailey was able to coral the rebound and get it to an open Anthony Beauvillier, who redirected the pass into an open net. That was all the Islanders needed, as they hang on to take Game 1 4-2.
New York Islanders - 5
Washington Capitals - 2
Alex Ovechkin didn't waste time in getting the Capitals on the board, as the Washington captain powered his way to the front of the net and beat Varlamov with a backhander just 56 seconds into the game. Despite the shot advantage, it wasn't until the second when the Islanders would find the back of the net. Just minutes into the second frame, a powerplay for New York would lead to a Nick Leddy point shot that went through a screened Holtby, off the post, and into the net. About three minutes later, Matt Martin would redirect a pass from Scott Mayfield past Holtby to give the Islanders the lead. Oveckhin manged to tie the game backup shortly after, tipping a Brenden Dillon point shot into the Islanders net for his second of the game. Just 15 seconds later, a solo effort by Brock Nelson led to him scoring on a breakaway to once again put New York back on top. Washington's best chance to tie it up again came midway through the third, as Ovechkin - looking for a hat trick - fired a one-timer into the side of the net. New York would get to extend their lead later in the period, as J-G Pageau's pass attempt deflected off a stick, bounced off Cal Clutterbuck, and into the Washington net. Lee added in empty netter a minute later to seal the game, as the win put the Islanders up 2-0 in the series.
Washington Capitals - 1
New York Islanders - 2 (OT)
The Islanders came out firing, but it took a while for their efforts to be rewarded. About 15 minutes into the first, a rush chance resulted in Nelson getting a chance to tip a pass toward the Washington net, but Holtby was there to kick it aside. New York kept up the offensive pressure, and seconds later, a slap pass from Adam Pelech was redirected by Lee and into the Capitals net. Holtby would keep Washington in it, stopping a couple key chances New York had. The Capitals caught a break in the second, as Evgeny Kuznetsov snapped a shot passed a screened Varlamov on the powerplay to tie the game. It was Varlamov's time to keep his team in it, as the Capitals had a couple chances he had to be sharp for. The shots weren't as plentiful in the third, but both goalies were up to the task of not letting another one by them. The game needed overtime to solve it. The Capitals got the best chance to end it early on, as Jakub Vrana blocked a shot and pounced on the puck to get a breakaway. Varlamov stood tall though, stopping both shots Vrana managed to take. The game ended less than a minute later, as Mathew Barzal also got a breakaway opportunity. Barzal made no mistake on it, deking out Holtby and sliding a backhander into the net. The overtime victory put the Islanders one game away from moving on to the next round.
Washington Capitals - 3
New York Islanders - 2
The Islanders came out wanting to end this series, and it looked good for them early in the first. Just four minutes in, Pageau would score by deflecting Mayfield's point shot. Midway through the period, a give-and-go with Barzal and Leddy resulted in the former flicking the return pass into the Capitals net. Things boiled out later in the period, as Barzal and Garnet Hathaway started a shoving match before everyone got involved in a scrum. Hathaway was called for roughing twice, while Mayfield (who came to the defense of Barzal) received one. New York failed to capitalize on the man advantage, as the period would end with them up 2-0. A penalty-filled start to the second resulted the teams swapping chances. Washington would score during one of the 4-on-4 stretches, as Kuznetsov power across the top of the crease and slid the puck under Varlamov's pad to put the Capitals on the board. Just two minutes later, the Capitals powerplay would connect, as Oveckhin scored on a one-timer from his usual spot to tie the game. Neither team managed to take the lead before the period expired, as the teams headed into the third tied 2-2. Just under four minutes into the third, Washington struck. A back-and-forth in rushes led to Oveckhin going in on the wing, and wristing it past Varlamov to give the Capitals their first lead of the game. This ended up being all Washington needed, as the Capitals took Game 4 to stay alive in the series.
New York Islanders - 4
Washington Capitals - 0
It took a bit, but New York would get things on the scoreboard going midway through the first, thanks to their powerplay. Nelson's initial shot was stopped, but we would get the rebound and pass it to an open Beauvillier, who wasted no time in getting the puck to hit the back of the net. Washington got a few chances to tie it up, but they weren't overtly dangerous, allowing Varlamov to turn them aside with ease. Lee had a chance to extend the Islanders lead minutes into the second, but John Carlson managed to get his stick in the way to prevent Lee putting it into an empty net. Midway through the period, Beauvillier got his second of the game. The Islander's forward would cut toward the net and lift a backhand shot over Holtby. It didn't end too well for him, as he tumbled over Holtby and was hit by Tom Wilson. Beauvillier was shaken up, but managed to stay in the game. There weren't many chances after, as the low shot counts by both teams would attest to. Washington's best chance to get on the board happened early in the third, as Backstrom got a pass on an 3-on-2 rush and snapped it toward to net, only to see Varlamov's glove get in the way. A pair of empty net goals (courtesy of Leddy and Bailey) was more than enough to put it away, as New York's win put them into the second round.
Three Thoughts on the Series
Fire Milbury into the sun. (Side note: I get he's trying to make a joke, and maybe 10 years ago it gets some chuckles and we move on. Now though - outside of the obvious demeaning of women - it's lazy, and that's all Milbury has ever been. Either way, it's well past time he gets off TV).
I know the attention is on Trotz getting one over his former team, but I wonder if Varlamov has a similar feeling. I get that he hasn't played for the Capitals in almost 10 years, but they did give him up and decided to go with Holtby at the time.
While their window isn't closed by any means, the age of Washington's core is a concern. It makes the next few years seem like Cup-or-bust for them.
Picture of the Series
That must've been one satisfying handshake for Trotz.
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