Game 5 Preview: Washington Capitals Look to Keep Momentum in Critical Game Against New York Islanders

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After notching their first win after three gloomy games, the Washington Capitals are back in action on Thursday for Game 5 in their first-round series against the New York Islanders. Puck drop from Scotiabank Arena in Toronto is set for 8 PM ET and can be seen on NBC Sports Washington and NBCSN.

First Round Standings: 1-3 | 2-4-1 overall

Goal Leader: Captain Alex Ovechkin (4)

Assist Leader: Defenseman John Carlson (6)

Point Leader: Carlson (6)

Starting Goaltender: Braden Holtby is likely to start. He has gone 2-4-1, has 2.55 goals-against average, and has a .909 save percentage.

Power-Play: 19.2% (7th in the postseason) | Forward T.J. Oshie and center Evgeny Kuznetsov tie with two power-play goals each.

Penalty Kill: 96.3% (3rd in the postseason) | Forward Tom Wilson leads with 23 penalty minutes.

Essential Notes: According to head coach Todd Reirden, center Nicklas Backstrom (concussion protocol) will be a game-time decision on Thursday. He did skate with the extras during Wednesday’s practice. “It’s a positive sign that he’s on the ice again today and we’ll go from there,” Reirden said. The Capitals are hoping to match their Game 4 work ethic and physicality for Game 5 if they want stay in the playoffs.

Islanders

First Round Standings: 3-1 | 6-2-0 overall

Goal Leader: Forward Anthony Beauvillier (4)

Assist Leader: Forward Josh Bailey (6)

Point Leader: Beauvillier (7), Bailey (7), and center Mathew Barzal (7)

Starting Goaltender: Semyon Varlamov is likely to start. He has gone 6-2-0, has 1.87 goals-against average, and has a .927 save percentage.

Power-Play: 14.3% (15th overall)

Penalty Kill: 73.3% (23nd overall) | Captain Anders Lee leads with 11 penalty minutes.

Essential Notes: Head coach Barry Trotz said the coaching staff is “contemplating a few” changes for Game 5. The Capitals rallied with three unanswered goals to win 3-2 on Tuesday. “It came too easy for us in the first,” Trotz said after the game. “We didn’t have enough skin in the game…We need to respond better next game.”

By Della Young