TJ Oshie scored both Capitals goals in Washington’s 4-2 Game One loss to the New York Islanders on Wednesday.
The forward also jumped in goal and made a high-danger save for Braden Holtby after the goaltender got deked out of the crease by Jean-Gabriel Pageau.
The Washington Capitals opened their first-round series with the New York Islanders and promptly dropped a complete stinker of a game. The Caps took a two-goal lead and then allowed the Isles to score four unanswered to take Game One by a score of 4-2.
The Islanders outshot the Caps 27 to 26 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 37 to 26.
By Chris Cerullo 3 years ago
The Washington Capitals were furious with Anders Lee’s blindside hit that injured Nicklas Backstrom after Game One, Wednesday.
John Carlson called the unsuspecting hit “real dirty”, TJ Oshie described it as “extremely late” and “cheap”, and Todd Reirden said it was “predatory.”
Despite the Capitals’ protestations, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety will not be disciplining Anders Lee. The Athletic’s Arthur Staple reported the news on Twitter.
By Ian Oland 3 years ago
Braden Holtby was the Capitals’ best and most consistent player during round-robin play, stopping 74 of 80 shots in three games. But, Wednesday, during Game One of the Caps’ first-round series against the New York Islanders, the goaltender was at times a liability. Holtby was at fault for two iffy goals in the second half of the game, including Josh Bailey’s game-winning shorty.
The Capitals initially took a 2-0 lead due to two TJ Oshie second-period, power-play goals. Holtby then surrendered a gaal with 1:07 remaining in the period after Jordan Eberle beat him in the high slot. Holtby tracked the puck and saw it the entire way, but missed stabbing the biscuit out of the air with his glove.
“First goal obviously can’t go in,” a disappointed Holtby said after the game.
John Carlson, TJ Oshie, and head coach Todd Reirden were critical of Anders Lee’s blindside hit on Nicklas Backstrom after the Capitals’ 4-2 loss to the New York Islanders, Wednesday.
Carlson, who tried to fight Lee immediately after he delivered the bodycheck, said, “It looked real dirty to me.”
By Ian Oland 3 years ago
Finally, after such a painfully long wait, the Caps are really back to play meaningful hockey. And it sucks. The Caps earned and then thoroughly squandered a lead in Game One against the New York Islanders.
After a goal-less first period, TJ Oshie got a pair of power-play goals in the second — first on a rebound, the second from a net crash. Jordan Eberle got a rush goal against some lazy D and a bad read from Holtby as we entered the third period, where Anders Lee got more of the same to tie the game.
That tie became an Isles lead in the worst way: a shorthanded goal by Josh Bailey. Anthony Beauvillier scored New York’s fourth unanswered goal to put the Isles up two, which is how it ended.
Caps lose. Islanders lead the series 1-0.
By Peter Hassett 3 years ago
TJ Oshie came up clutch in the second period, scoring twice from close range to give the Washington Capitals an early 2-0 lead.
The goals were Oshie’s second and third of the 2020 playoffs. He also scored during the round-robin.
Nicklas Backstrom did not come out with the rest of his Capitals teammates for the second period of Game One.
The Swedish center was hit blindside in the chest by Anders Lee in the first period during his second shift on the ice.
By Ian Oland 3 years ago
It took just one shift for John Carlson to get back into the thick of it after missing all three round-robin games due to injury.
Carlson scrapped with Anders Lee after the Islanders’ forward nailed Nicklas Backstrom with a blindside hit.
By Ian Oland 3 years ago
He’s back.
John Carlson will make his 2020 playoffs debut Wednesday in Game One of the Washington Capitals’ first-round series against the New York Islanders. Carlson has not played since July 29 when he got tangled and awkwardly fell into the boards during the Capitals’ only exhibition game in the bubble.
