The Washington Capitals played Sunday’s Game Three against the New York Islanders with desperation, which is not necessarily the same thing as playing well.
Anders Lee got the Islanders on the board first with some tenacity, but the Caps answered in the second period when Kuznetsov loose a snipe from Backstrom’s power-play spot. Braden Holtby turned the lights out to keep the Caps alive into overtime, but Matt Barzal won it in overtime.
Caps lose. Isles lead the series 3-0.
- Sunday marked the NHL debut of Brian Pinho. Replacing Travis Boyd, he was fine. But this was not the impactful line shake-up we were promised. More on that in a moment.
- It was a very bad first period. As bad as any period the Caps have played this postseason. During 5v5 play, the Isles generated 93 percent of the expected goals to the Caps’ 7. The Caps committed three penalties, and honestly they played better during the PK than they did at even strength. One call-out in particular:
Evgeny Kuznetsov: 5:18 5v5 TOI, 0/-8 CF, 0/-7 shots, 0/-1 goals, 0/-6 SCF, 0/-5 HDCF
— Chris Cerullo (@CJC_95) August 16, 2020
- But things got better abruptly in the second period when Evgeny Kuznetsov converted a power play while filling in for Nicklas Backstrom. After slagging on Kuznetsov in Game One, I have to admit he’s been good since then.
Kuzy's stick blade looks like it has a groove or black tape for more feel. Interesting. pic.twitter.com/Lv7ARQ08rl
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 16, 2020
- Still, the top line as it is currently constructed (Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson) doesn’t pose much of a threat during 5v5 play. They got matched up pretty aggressively but he funly named Pelech/Pulock D-pair and trailed all four lines in how much they drove play. I’d rather see Ovi with Eller and Kuznetsov with Oshie.
- The Caps PK remains good. But also busy. I’d rather they be just okay and rarely used.
- Braden Holtby, whom you probably wanted to bench, put up a .968 during regulation by stopping 30 of 31 shots. The team needed a performance like this, and Holtby delivered. The team squandered it.
- In hindsight, I sure do wish Jakub Vrana scored on his chance in overtime.
#JoeBSuitOfTheNight #CapsIsles A shiny white suit for Game Three! pic.twitter.com/ThZqXfb9g7
— Ian Oland (@ianoland) August 16, 2020
I don’t get it. The Caps had every reason to enter Sunday’s game with conviction. And, sure, eventually they started to look okay, but their failure to put together a solid hour of competent play is the reason why they’re now in a 3-0 hole that they probably cannot escape, and that’s also the reason why this version of the team cannot be permitted to survive into next season.
Welp. See you Tuesday.
