For the first time this postseason the Washington Capitals held a game-day morning skate Tuesday morning at the Ford Performance Centre in Toronto. Capitals’ head coach Todd Reirden met with the media following the skate.
Reirden was asked about the status of center Nicklas Backstrom. Reirden said he was on the ice for practice this morning, and will be a game-time decision.
Nicklas Backstrom was on the ice for morning skate, will be a game-time decision, per Reirden.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) August 18, 2020
Reirden on Backstrom’s availability tonight: “Like him and a few others guys, it is a game-time decision for what our lineup is come 8 o’ clock tonight.”
Defenseman Martin Fehervary was not on the ice this morning and will not play in Game 4.
Martin Fehervary was not on the ice for morning skate and will not play tonight in Game 4 vs Islanders.
— Samantha Pell (@SamanthaJPell) August 18, 2020
The Capitals and Islanders square-off in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET.
The Capitals have an all-time record of 23-21 in Game 4s. In 24 career games when the Capitals have faced elimination, Alex Ovechkin has recorded 22 points (11g, 11a). Braden Holtby holds a record of 8-6 in 14 career elimination games with a 1.82 goals against average, a .934 save percentage and two shutouts. Three of the losses have come in overtime.
The Capitals are looking to become the fifth team in NHL history to overcome a 3-0 series deficit to win the series in seven games. The most recent team to accomplish the feat, the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, did so in the First Round against the San Jose Sharks. Los Angeles is the only team to comeback in a series when down 3-0 in the First Round.
By Jon Sorensen
