2015 Playoffs: Islanders Wash Out Caps In Game 1

Tonight, your New York Islanders start their bid for the Stanley Cup.  They are in D.C. to face the Capitals without the services of Travis Hamonic.  Capuano on Hamonic: "It's undisclosed and there's no timetable. When there is, I'll let you know."  Expect Calvin de Haan to rejoin the team on defense.  “I’m looking forward to it,” de Haan said, “It's going to be exciting. The atmosphere is going to be good. It's going to be intense.”  #Capslock engaged. 

The Islanders have been good on the road this season with a tally of 22 wins, but they will need to solve their power play woes if they expect to keep pace with the Capitals, whose PP is the best in the NHL.  Staying out of the box is a good idea as well.  While special teams will be big, Isles goaltending will be bigger.  Jaroslav Halak has an NHL career .923Sv% and a 2.42gaa.  He will start the series and will have to play well in net for New York along with his defense to stop Alex Ovechkin.

Kulemin-Tavares-Strome, Bailey-Nielsen-Okposo, Grabner-Nelson-Lee, Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck.

Leddy-Boychuk, de Haan-Strait, Hickey-Visnovsky.

Griffin Reinhart is here as an extra defensemen.

Jaroslav Halak is in net with Michal Neuvirth on the bench.

In the first period, both teams came out with a tight defensive game and a physical edge.  Brock Nelson (Bailey & Boychuk) gets one 6 minutes into the period off a Caps turnover for the first goal of the NHL playoffs.  Definitely one Holtby wants back.  That’s one for the Islanders speed & transition game.  Calvin de Haan draws a weak holding call off Fehr, but the Isles fail to generate much on the PP.   Halak has made a few good saves so far in the game, including an Ovechkin shot from the slot.  In the final minute of the period, Jaro Halak misplays the puck and turns it over for a Capitals goal by Johansson.  Not the first time the Islanders goaltender has cost his team with a mishandled puck around his net.  So, it’s another late goal surrendered in the final minute after a mostly well-played period on the road. It brought the Caps and the fans right back into this game.  Could be a major mistake.  Shots were 11-7 New York.

The defense rebounds in front of a motivated Halak. Ryan Strome (Tavares) scores just 5 minutes into the second period off a John Tavares face off win in the Capitals zone good for a 2-1 Islanders lead.  Michael Grabner called for interference against Backstrom.  The Isles PK is tested and comes through by limiting Washington to only 1 shot against.  Huge kill for New York.  The Capitals respond with more physical play in front of the Isles net and the Islanders give it right back.  Several players answering the grit bell tonight.  Josh Bailey (Okposo & Nielsen) slams one home off the post and behind a sprawling Holtby for a 3-1 Islanders lead midway through the second period.  The Islanders are starting to create confusion for Washington.  Exactly what they need to do.  Matt Martin saves a goal with a huge block in front of an open net.  Chimera called for roughing at the buzzer for a late hit on Boychuk.  Isles will start the third on a PP.  Shots were 10-6 Caps for the period, tying the shots at 17 for the game.  Boychuk & Leddy have been all over Ovechkin so far tonight.  Great rebound period for New York.

The Islanders generate some good pressure on the opening power play chance of the third period, but fail to score.  Ovechkin lays a cheap hit on Boychuk into the boards from behind.  Boychuk is not pleased.  Clutterbuck is called for high-sticking.  The Islanders go to the PK and do a good job making saves, blocking shots and clearing the zone to kill off the man advantage for Washington.  Then they do a great job creating turnovers & crashing the Caps zone to generate pressure.  Holtby to the bench in the final 2 minutes after Halak makes a huge save late in the game.  Brock Nelson gets the ENG for a 4-1 Islanders lead and eventual win.  Shots were 10-8 Isles in the 3^rd and 27-25 for the game.  New York was 0/2 on the PP and a huge 2/2 on the PK.  Definitely the difference in the game.

 

The team was prepared to bring a fast paced, quick transition, physical game against a bigger Caps team.  I was worried about Jack Capuano’s plan for tonight, but he had it right and should be recognized for it.  The leadership on the ice was spot on. The Islanders started well, gave up a potential game changing goal late in the first period off a misplay by Halak and still managed to come out firing for the rest of the game to keep things in hand.  Boychuk and Leddy were all over Ovechkin and did a great job on defense, even with the injury to Travis Hamonic.  The Cizikas, Martin, Clutterbuck line had 16 hits and definitely set the tone. Guys like Josh Bailey, Nikolay Kulemin and Brian Strait were doing all the little things to help the team win.  It was a solid road playoff game that was actually able to adjust and out maneuver Trotz, his line adjustments and momentum killing glass maintenance.  Jaroslav Halak (24 of 25 with a .960Sv%) settled down after a bad giveaway in the first and made the saves when he had to.  Josh Bailey & Brock Nelson were named 1^st & 2^nd stars of the game.

 

With tonight’s game 1 win, it marks the first time the Islanders have led a playoff series since April of 2009.  Home ice advantage has returned.

 

Grail Knight of game 1 goes to Brock Nelson for his 2 goal performance.  He was good all night long and played his first NHL playoff game like a seasoned veteran.

Isles Notes:

Calvin de Haan, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson & Ryan Strome are making their NHL playoff debut tonight.

The NHL Network said #FortNeverLose: The story of the @NYIslanders and Nassau Coliseum will replay this Sunday at 3 ET following Game 3 of #NYIvsWSH.  If you haven’t seen it, you should make the time to watch.  It is the best documentary on the Islanders that I have seen.

Per Randi Marshall, “Here's our story on today's Coliseum news. #isles #iftheybuildit #hope with @BrodskyRobert."