Photo: Chase Agnello-Dean/Getty Images
The Washington Capitals came back from a 2-0 deficit in the second period to defeat the New York Islanders by a score of 3-2 in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Playoff first-round series on Tuesday night to cut the Islanders’ series lead to 3-1. Goaltender Braden Holtby pitched 22 saves in the victory, the 50th of his Stanley Cup Playoff career.
Capitals’ Game 4 Lines
Photo: @Capitals
Center Nicklas Backstrom missed his third straight game due to an undisclosed injury. Center Brian Pinho replaced Travis Boyd on the third line for the second straight game. Defenseman Martin Fehervary, who did not participate in the team’s morning skate prior to Game 4, was replaced by Jonas Siegenthaler. Defenseman Michal Kempny was scratched for the second-straight game.
First Period
Center Jean-Gabriel Pageau deflected defenseman Scott Mayfield’s point-shot under the blocker of Holtby to open the scoring for the Islanders 3:50 into the game.
Center Mathew Barzal tipped in defenseman Nick Leddy’s pass from the half-wall under Holtby’s arm to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead at 9:16.
The Capitals had two giveaways while the Islanders had four and failed to score on their lone power-play of the first.
The Islanders led 13-9 in shots, 16-14 in hits, 8-6 in hits, 4-0 in takeaways, went 0-for-two on the power-play, and won 67% of the draws in the opening 20 minutes.
Second Period
Center Evgeny Kuznetsov busted up the ice from his own zone and went around two Islanders defenders to take the puck to the cage. He slipped it under the left pad of Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov to get the Capitals within one 3:35 into the second.
Smoooooooth moves from Kuz pic.twitter.com/94r8YA0G33
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 19, 2020
Captain Alex Ovechkin blasted one from the top of his office on a one-timer after defenseman John Carlson fed him from up high to tie it at 5:29.
GOATee magic pic.twitter.com/mRlpJmU1tQ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 19, 2020
The Capitals led 24-20 in shots, including 15-7 in the second, 26-24 in hits, had three giveaways while the Islanders had four, and went one-for-five on the power-play through 40 minutes.
The Islanders led 4-1 in takeaways, 10-8 in blocked shots, won 61% of the draws, and failed to convert on four power-plays in the first two periods.
Third Period
Ovechkin gave the Capitals the lead, ripping one high-glove on Varlamov from the right dot after roaring into the offensive zone just 3:40 into the period.
Playoff goal No. 69 for the #Gr8! pic.twitter.com/3vyNWxBKgY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 19, 2020
The Capitals led 29-26 in shots, including 5-4 in the third, 14-13 in blocked shots, had nine giveaways while the Islanders had 11, and went one-for-five on the power-play.
The Islanders led 6-5 in third-period shots, 6-3 in takeaways, 40-35 in hits, won 55% of the draws, and failed to convert on five power-plays.
Game 5 of the series is set to occur on Thursday. Time and television networking have both yet to be determined.
By Harrison Brown
