New York goalie Semyon Varlamov saved 36 of 37 shots on Tuesday night to keep the Islanders alive long enough to force a Game Six.
But it was Varly’s epic postgame celebration that somehow managed to upstage Jordan Eberle’s double-overtime goal.
The Washington Capitals have been knocked out of the 2020 NHL playoffs in the first round by their old bench boss and his New York Islanders in only five games. The 4-0 defeat marks the second season in a row that the Caps haven’t at least seen the second round after seeing it in the prior four.
The Caps outshot the Isles 21 to 17 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 52 to 23.
By Chris Cerullo 2 months ago
The Capitals lost their last hockey game of the season. The New York Islanders advance to the second round with a gentlemen’s sweep: four games to one.
Anthony Beauvillier scored two goals for the Isles, and a couple of empty-netters made it four. The Caps scored none.
Caps lose.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
It is game number five for the Washington Capitals and New York Islanders series in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Caps avoided elimination on Tuesday night after a win, but the bad news is that they’re facing elimination again! The Isles are up in the series 3-1.
Just gotta take it one game at a time. Is it possible the Caps can make a wild comeback? Yeah. Are the odds pretty slim? Yeah, but there are odds! Always need to find the silver lining.
The puck drops at 8 PM and, as always, Peter Hassett will once welcome you back here with a recap. Let’s go Caps.
By Elyse Bailey 2 months ago
Game Five of the Washington Capitals’ first-round series against the New York Islanders will be played at 8 PM on Thursday. The game will be aired locally on NBC Sports Washington.
By Ian Oland 2 months ago
The Washington Capitals have staved off utter humiliation with an effort that they should be proud of. The 3-2 victory ensures that this first-round series will at least have to go five games.
The Caps outshot the Isles 29 to 26 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 48 to 27.
By Chris Cerullo 2 months ago
This is not going to be a normal game recap. This game was too powerful, too weird, too Capitals-ish to be a normal game recap. The whole thing washed over me like a rogue wave of diarrhea and hundred-dollar bills. I’m stunned, I’m dazzed, I’m pinned from Narnia, I’m malding, and I’m boomed. You are too, so don’t deny it.
(The Caps beat the Islanders, by the way.)
It started with sucking, as the Capitals allowed two goals in the first period — a net-crash from Pageau and then Barzal on a break. But then the Caps of the second period arrived, a wholly different and much better hockey team. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Alex Ovechkin got two goals inside two minutes, tying the game and making me feel feelings I’ve not felt in years.
Early in the third, Alex Ovechkin gave the Caps a late lead with a gorgeous solo effort. The Caps held on like Wilson Phillips to take their first meaningful win since the pre-covidian era.
CAPS WIN! Caps trail in the series 3-1.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
The Capitals are facing the New York Islanders in Game Four of the first round in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Isles are up 3-0, so this is the final chance for the Capitals. Nothing huge to update you on about the team other than Nick Backstrom will be a game-time decision and this could potentially be the last game that Braden Holtby is in goal for the Washington Capitals. See, nothing huge to update you on, but also can someone send me some tissues?
I hope this isn’t my last pregame of the season. I hope the Capitals have some wild comeback. I think I’ll always secretly hold out a little hope (that’s why it hurts my heart very bad), but if this is the end of the road for 2020…just know that it’s been a pleasure. See you on the other side.
The puck drops at 8 PM and Peter Hassett will welcome you back here with a recap. Let’s go Caps.
By Elyse Bailey 2 months ago
The Washington Capitals are moving on…to Game Four with a 0-3 series deficit after a 2-1 overtime loss to the New York Islanders. It’s not “over”, over, but it’s over.
The Isles outshot the Caps 34 to 23 and out-attempted them at five-on-five 58 to 43.
By Chris Cerullo 2 months ago
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.
By Peter Hassett 2 months ago
