Game 3 Preview: Washington Capitals Look to Turn Series Around After New York Islanders Lead 2-0

Photo: @Capitals

After a disappointing 5-2 loss on Friday, the Washington Capitals are back in action on Sunday for Game 3 in their first-round series against the New York Islanders. Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is set for 12 PM ET and can be seen on NBC Sports Washington and USA Network.

Capitals

First Round Standings: 0-2 | 1-3-1 overall

Goal Leader: Forward T.J. Oshie (3)

Assist Leader: Defenseman John Carlson (3)

Point Leader: Oshie (3)

Starting Goaltender: Braden Holtby is likely to start. He has gone 1-3-1, has 2.81 goals-against average, and has a .899 save percentage.

Power-Play: 15.8% (12th in the postseason) | Oshie leads with two power-play goals.

Penalty Kill: 94.1% (3rd in the postseason) | Forward Tom Wilson leads with 19 penalty minutes.

Essential Notes: The Capitals are looking to turn around this series after dropping the first two games. Following Saturday’s practice, head coach Todd Reirden said that Game 3 will be the “most important game of the year” for the team. Center Nicklas Backstrom (concussion protocol) was on the ice at end of practice on Saturday, but his status for Sunday is unknown. He missed Friday’s Game 2.

Islanders

First Round Standings: 2-0 | 5-1-0 overall

Goal Leader: Forward Anthony Beauvillier (4)

Assist Leader: Forward Josh Bailey (6)

Point Leader: Beauvillier (7)

Starting Goaltender: Semyon Varlamov is likely to start. He has gone 5-1-0, has 1.85 goals-against average, and has a .929 save percentage.

Power-Play: 20% (9th in the postseason)

Penalty Kill: 73.9 % (22nd in the postseason) | Captain Anders Lee leads with 11 penalty minutes.

Essential Notes: The Islanders are hoping for another victory to put Washington on the brink of elimination. “Every game in a series, the intensity just gets that much more ramped up, it becomes that much tighter of a game,” Lee said. The Islanders have been able to control the game, win the puck battle, and make smart and successful plays. Defenseman Nick Leddy, who scored a power-play goal on Friday, knows that “every game is desperation”, adding, “We know, as a team, we have to keep raising our level. They have a very veteran group.”

By Della Young