{"id":82936,"date":"2020-08-12T08:45:29","date_gmt":"2020-08-12T12:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=82936"},"modified":"2020-08-12T08:37:36","modified_gmt":"2020-08-12T12:37:36","slug":"washington-capitals-vs-new-york-islanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2020\/08\/12\/washington-capitals-vs-new-york-islanders\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders First Round Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

After an unprecedented season, the Stanley Cup playoffs finally began on August 11. One series many have been anticipating is the <\/span>Washington Capitals<\/span><\/a> vs <\/span>New York Islanders<\/span><\/a> matchup. The Capitals are coming off an amazing season, but throughout the regular season, both teams tallied two wins against each other, scoring 14 goals apiece.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phase Four of the NHL\u2019s Return to Play Plan saw the Capitals <\/span>in the <\/span>Eastern Cup Round Robin. <\/span><\/a>Washington clinched the third seed while Islanders competed in the <\/span>Stanley Cup Qualifiers<\/span><\/a> in four-game series against the <\/span>Florida Panthers<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>Washington Capitals<\/span><\/a> vs <\/span>New York Islanders<\/span><\/a> playoff matchup has a long and storied history between these two franchises. The Easter Epic still goes down as one of the most infamous, and longest, hockey games of all time. Washington is one of the strongest teams offensively in the league and will be facing a fourth line that has yet to live up to last season\u2019s glory.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Much of the history between these teams occurred in the 20th century. The only time these franchises have competed in the playoffs together in the last two decades was in 2015. This was former Capitals coach Barry Trotz\u2019s first postseason series with the Caps. Now, Trotz coaches the Islanders, making this series the team Barry Trotz coached to their first Stanley Cup against Barry Trotz.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Slated to be a mediocre 2018-19 season, Trotz turned it into one where New York finished 103 points, the most it had experienced since 1984. His success continued into this season where the Islanders finished the season with 80 points. However, despite his quick turnaround of the Islanders, the Capitals are coming in with a stronger regular season. Washington concluded the regular season with 90, playing only one more game than New York.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington Capitals vs New York Islanders Round One Series<\/span><\/h2>\n

Islanders\u2019 Defensive Strength<\/span><\/h3>\n

Coming into the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Capitals leading scorer and <\/span>Norris Trophy finalist<\/span><\/a> John Carlson<\/b><\/a> will be back on the ice. Carlson, who tallied 15 goals and 60 assists in the regular season sat out the round-robin. However, even with the addition of Carlson and Sharks-acquisition <\/span>Brenden Dillon<\/b><\/a>, it remains up in the air whether Washington can muster the same defensive prowess New York showed during the qualifying round.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Johnny Boychuk <\/b><\/a>is also expected to return to play after he suffered a head injury during Game One against the Panthers. Even if he is unable to make his comeback, <\/span>Andy Greene<\/b><\/a> was a seamless replacement to the Islanders’ already deep defence. The tandem of <\/span>Adam Pelech <\/b><\/a>and <\/span>Ryan Pulock <\/b><\/a>will be the pair to watch, as they will most likely receive a lot of ice time to fend off <\/span>Alex Ovechkin<\/a>.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

In the regular season, the Islanders\u2019 defensive zone structure devastated other teams in the league. In the qualifiers, New York brought back its fire, shutting down the sixth highest-scoring team in the NHL. The Islanders held the Panthers to seven goals over four games. If the Islanders continue to play this way, then it will be hard for any team to score on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Capitals\u2019 Offensive Depth<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Capitals have the best offensive player in the series in left-wing Ovechkin. With 19 assists and 48 goals, if he plays his best, he will be an unstoppable force. While he scored zero goals in the round-robin, Trotz must prepare for the Ovechkin of the regular season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if Ovechkin is not at his finest, Washington has dominated New York in terms of possession in the past two seasons. However, this should not be taken as a sure sign that the Capitals will dominate the ice. The Islanders\u2019 offence is routinely weak on possession. New York tallied the third-worst Corsi For percentage in the league with 46.45 and posted the second-worst Fenwick percentage of 46.67.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Capitals have a deep offence with some of the strongest players in the league, but for them to pull through, they must fight off any opponents\u2019 attacks, especially focusing on forced passes across the point.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the round-robin, the Capitals lacked steam from their first two lines, who only scored three goals in Game One and Two collectively. Players like <\/span>Richard Panik<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Travis Boyd<\/b><\/a> should not be carrying an offence that contains Ovechkin. While the situation improved in Game Three and Game Four when <\/span>Tom Wilson<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>T.J. Oshie<\/b><\/a> scored, Washington needs to shoot more effectively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Islanders\u2019 Offensive Burst<\/span><\/h3>\n

The Islanders will be entering the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a formidable four-line depth. The trio of <\/span>Brock Nelson<\/a>, <\/b>Anthony Beauvillier,<\/b><\/a> and <\/span>Josh Bailey<\/b><\/a> led the team in their win over the Panthers. However, just like the Capitals, New York\u2019s top line of <\/span>Mathew Barzal<\/b><\/a>, <\/span>Jordan Eberle<\/b><\/a> and captain <\/span>Anders Lee<\/b><\/a> should have taken more control offensively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While New York easily dismantled the Panthers, but the Caps are a different team. It cannot be determined how much of the Islanders\u2019 win can be contributed to them, and how much can be blamed on a lack of offensive zone structure from Florida.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Panthers relied on dump-and-chase, which led to a New York defence that centred around waiting for Florida to trip up rather than active defending. Offensively, however, Eberle and Beauvillier can be credited for their success scoring two and three goals, respectively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Islanders\u2019 defence lacked energy, but Washington should prepare to exit the defensive zone cleanly. If the Caps do not, the Isles will create chances of their aggressive forecheck. The Isles\u2019 offence and defence both capitalize on chances and are able to finish them, which makes them a large threat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction for New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Models have been split on who will take this series, but most are going towards Washington. The great determining factor in this series will which versions of these teams came to play. It is the teams we saw in the regular season or the teams we saw in bubble competition?\u00a0The Islanders looked far better in the qualifiers than they did back in March. Coupled with Trotz\u2019s coaching, they could be unstoppable.<\/p>\n

The Capitals presented a subdued and sleepy performance throughout the round-robin. Many labelled Ovechkin as the Capitals\u2019 largest advantage, but he produced zero points. If Washington competes in this same way, the Islanders\u2019 defensive structure could pull through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Prediction: Islanders in seven.<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>