Alex Ovechkin led the Capitals with two goals, including the game-winner, as they won 3-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday night.  The Islanders now lead the opening round series 3-1, heading into Thursday’s Game 5.

After going down 2-0 in the first half of the opening period, Capitals coach Todd Reirden called a time out and his team responded by shutting out the Islanders for the rest of the game and earning a come-from-behind win to keep their season alive.  Can the Isles finish it off on Thursday or will the Caps stave off elimination again?

Islanders vs. Capitals NHL Stanley Cup Odds

Thanks in large part to the Islanders dominance of the series, the underdog is now 9-2 in the last 11 meetings between these teams with the road team winning 11 of the last 12 games.

The Islanders opened as slight favourites on the NHL odds for Game 5.  The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings between the Caps and Isles.

New York Islanders

Despite a strong start, the Islanders missed their chance to sweep the Capitals in Game 4.  Goals from Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mathew Barzal put the Isles up early, but that was the extent of their offensive production on Tuesday night.  Cal Clutterbuck took a hard hit from Radko Gudas in the second period and never returned.  His status is unknown for Game 5.

Semyon Varlamov did his job in Game 4 by making 26 saves on 29 shots, but the Isles need some better production from their power play unit on Thursday.  The Isle’s power play went 0-5 on Tuesday night and is now only 1-19 in the series.  In tight playoff games against an offensive juggernaut like Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, a couple more power play goals could mean the difference between the second round of the playoffs and having your bubble popped.

Washington Capitals

It was the Alex Ovechkin show in Game 4.  After going down 2-0 just over 9 minutes into the game, Todd Reirden called a timeout and Ovechkin responded.  Ovechkin played physical and blocked shots while still generating offensive pressure.  Evgeny Kuznetsov put the ‘Caps on the board three minutes into the second period before Ovechkin’s power play goal tied the game, with the captain also adding the game-winner in the third period.

Brayden Holtby made 24 saves in just the second Capitals win since the season restart (the Capitals went 1-1-1 in the qualifying round).  Ovechkin finished with two goals, two hits and two blocked shots, including one late in the game to preserve the lead.  For better or worse the Capitals fortunes generally lie in how engaged their captain is.  If Ovechkin is just starting to heat up now then Barry Trotz may have a harder time leading the Islanders through his former Caps team, to the second round.

NHL Prediction: Who Will Win Islanders vs. Capitals?

ISLANDERS

Away

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CAPITALS

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