Photo: Elsa/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals fell to the New York Islanders by a score of 4-0 in Game 5 of the first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series on Thursday night. The Capitals are now eliminated from the tournament. Goaltender Braden Holtby made 13 saves in the season-ending loss.

Capitals’ Game 5 Lines

Photo: @Capitals

Center Nicklas Backstrom returned to the lineup after missing the past three games due to an undisclosed injury. Center Brian Pinho came out in favor of Backstrom, who slid down to the third-line while center Lars Eller remained on the second. Defenseman Martin Fehervary (unfit to play) missed a second straight game. Defenseman Michal Kempny was scratched for the third consecutive game.

Forward Cal Clutterbuck (unfit to play) was out for the Islanders. Forward Ross Johnston came into the lineup in favor of him.

First Period

Forward Anthony Beauvillier potted the game’s first goal into a wide-open net after center Brock Nelson gave him the puck from the slot with Holtby out of position to make it 1-0 Islanders on the power-play 10:19 into the first.

The Capitals led 8-6 in shots, 10-9 in hits, had four giveaways while the Islanders had six, won 59% of the draws, and failed to convert on their lone power-play of the first.

The Islanders led 14-5 in blocked shots, 2-0 in takeaways, and scored on one of their two power-plays in the period.

Second Period

Beauvillier waltzed passed the Capitals’ defense and backhanded one past the blocker of Holtby on a semi-break to make it 2-0 Islanders with his second of the game at 9:33.

The Capitals led 14-13 in shots, had six giveaways while the Islanders had eight, and did not convert on two power-plays in the first 40 minutes.

The Islanders led 7-6 in second-period shots, 27-25 in hits, 23-7 in blocked shots, 4-2 in takeaways, scored on one of their three man advantages, and won 52% of the faceoffs through two periods.

Third Period

Defenseman Nick Leddy backhanded a rolling puck from the right dot in the Islanders’ zone into the Capitals’ empty net with 2:13 left to make it 3-0.

Foward Josh Bailey potted one into an open net from center-ice after a Capitals turnover at the red line to extend the lead to 4-0 with 1:29 remaining.

The Capitals led 21-17 in shots, including 7-4 in the third, had eight giveaways while the Islanders had 13, and did not convert on two power-plays.

The Islanders led 46-34 in hits, 31-7 in blocked shots, won 51% of the draws, 8-3 in takeaways, and scored on one of their three man advantages.

The Islanders will face the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round unless they lose to the Montreal Canadiens in their first-round series. The Flyers are winning the series 3-2. Otherwise, they will face the Boston Bruins.

By Harrison Brown