Capitals vs. Islanders Game 1: Winners and losers from Islanders’ comeback win

The New York Islanders take a 1-0 series lead over the Washington Capitals in a comeback win.

The Washington Capitals and New York Islanders set the tone for an entertaining series in Game 1 of their first round, trading literal and figurative punches in an emotional showdown between two historic rivals.

The game was delayed an hour due to Game 1 between the Bruins and Hurricanes requiring double overtime, but the Islanders eventually stunned the Capitals in Game 1 with a 4-2 comeback win, scoring four unanswered goals with three in the third period to take a 1-0 series lead. Here are the winners and losers of Game 1 between the Capitals and Islanders.

Winner: Islanders’ brand of hockey

This Islanders team has never been known for their elite talent or flashy goal scoring. They’re built on depth, physicality, and most important a complete team buy-in. The Islanders were held to just two shots in the first period and took three penalties but were able to weather the storm. They looked a bit better in the second period but gave up two powerplay goals to TJ Oshie to fall behind, but they never got deflated and kept on pushing.

The Islanders finally broke through late in the second period on a goal from Jordan Eberle and rode that momentum all the way for a dominant third period. Anders Lee’s goal 51 seconds into the third period put them firmly in control, followed in short order by a shorthanded goal from Josh Bailey that held up as the game-winner, and a backbreaker from Anthony Beauvillier.

The Islanders never let go of that control and shut the door on the Caps the rest of the way. It was exactly the kind of brand of hockey the Islanders like to play, and already they’ve got the Capitals frustrated in this series. If the Islanders can find another level for a full 60 minutes in the coming games, this could be a short series.

Loser: Braden Holtby’s meltdown

Braden Holtby has had an up and down year with the Capitals this season, and they need him to be on his game if they want to go anywhere in these playoffs. Unfortunately, Holtby let them down in a big way in Game 1 of this series. The Capitals had all the momentum and were playing a pretty solid game through two periods before Holtby let in a terrible goal to put the Islanders right back in the game.

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Holtby needed to rebound with a big third period to put the game away for the Capitals and he did just the opposite by letting in the tying goal from poor rebound control 51 seconds into the period. Later the Capitals had a powerplay to try and take back the lead, but Holtby gave the puck away and allowed the go-ahead goal on the subsequent shot.

While the Capitals as a whole aren’t blameless for falling apart after that first goal, they needed a save from Holtby and they didn’t get it. If the Capitals are going to win this series, they need Holtby to be significantly better, or they might as well just start packing to go home now.

Winner: Josh Bailey

In order to match the firepower of the Capitals, the Islanders need their depth players to step up. They got that from Josh Bailey in Game 1, who has found his game so far in these playoffs for the Islanders. His shorthanded goal had the Capitals completely dazed on the ropes and held up as the game-winner.

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Bailey also assisted on Beauvillier’s insurance goal with a beautiful heads up play to grab his one rebound on a one-timer and send the puck to a wide-open Beauviller to put the game out of reach. Bailey now has six points in the first five games of these playoffs, tied with Beauviller for the team lead.

Loser: Capitals lose Nicklas Backstrom

There was no love lost between these old rivals, and this opening game got rough really fast. Less than three minutes into the game, Anders Lee hit Nicklas Backstrom with a late blindside hit that sparked a combined 26 penalty minutes in just the first period. Backstrom played the rest of the first period but did not return for the rest of the game after that, which is concerning considering his history of concussions.

Tom Wilson made sure Anders Lee answered for the hit later in the first period in a lopsided fight.

Losing Backstrom for any amount of time in this series would obviously be a huge blow for the Capitals. Outside of being third on the team in points this season, Backstrom is seen as one of the heart and soul pieces of the team, as well as their consistently most reliable player in both ends of the ice. There’s simply no way to fill all the gaps that his absence would leave in the lineup.

Regardless of if the Capitals get Backstrom back for Game 2, there is no doubt this is going to carry over some bad blood for the rest of the series. Capitals coach Todd Reirden and the rest of the team did not take kindly to the hit, calling it late and predatory.

On the bright side, the Capitals will be getting Lars Eller back in Game 2, who missed Game 1 while quarantining after returning home for the birth of his son.