Saturday afternoon, the Washington Capitals could look ahead to their first-round matchup with the New York Islanders, even without knowing where Game 1 would be played. They were clinched into the postseason regardless, locked into facing one of their tightest-matched opponents this season. Three of their four meetings with the Islanders advanced beyond regulation. Two needed the grace of overtime penalties and ensuing power play game-winners.  “We knew there’s a couple teams that we’re going to have to go through if we want to come out of the East here, and the Islanders is going to be the first team we’re going to have to go through now,” forward Troy Brouwer said.  But first, looking back. The Capitals and Islanders haven’t met in the postseason since 1993, but four even meetings in 2014-15 offer a glimpse into the first-round matchup. So, let’s review those four games here.  Nov. 26, 2014, Nassau Coliseum: Islanders, 3-2 (OT) The recap: A scoreless third period brought a 2-2 game into overtime, where New York center Brock Nelson got his stick stuck between center Nicklas Backstrom’s arms. The Capitals maintained possession and no whistle blew. Instead, Backstrom was flagged for holding the stick, 2 minutes and 38 seconds into the extra period. Shortly after, forward John Tavares blasted the winning goal from the slot. The Islanders, surprise leaders of the Metropolitan Diviison at the time, escaped with their 10th victory in 11 games.  The stars: Forward Alex Ovechkin scored two power-play goals. New York forward Ryan Strome had two primary assists, first on Anders Lee’s first-period goal and Tavares’s game-winner. The teams combined to strike on 4 of 5 power plays.  The stat: 2. Seconds remaining on Backstrom’s power play when Tavares ripped the decisive goal.  The quote: “All the stuff that went on during that game, and they call that at a real important time. In a nothing play? You’ve got to have a feel for the game.” – Coach Barry Trotz, on the decisive penalty.  The story: Capitals lose to Islanders after an ill-timed penalty by Nicklas Backstrom  Nov. 28, 2014, Verizon Center: Capitals, 5-2 The recap: Two days later, the Capitals returned home and whipped the Islanders, closing out what players called a mini-playoff series bridging Thanksgiving. They filled Trotz’s wish of earning “greasy” goals around the net, but also benefitted from facing backup goaltender Chad Johnson, who allowed four goals on 26 shots. They survived 10 minutes without a shot attempt during the first period and finally got on the scoreboard thanks to rookie Andre Burakovsky’s net-front deflection.  The stars: Defenseman Matt Niskanen recorded three assists, his only three-point game in a Capitals’ sweater. Forward Evgeny Kuznetsov notched a goal and an assist, and was on the ice for three goals.  The stat: 17. Days between two-goal leads for the Capitals, indicative of their mid-November slide that found resolution in redemption against the Islanders.  The quote: “If he’s not standing there, it’s a save the goalie makes almost every time. That’s the type of goals you need to score now in hockey. Defensemen are too good, goalies are too good, and when they see it, they stop it.” – Goaltender Braden Holtby, on net-front traffic.  The story: Capitals finally get physical in front of the net in 5-2 win over Islanders  Dec. 29, 2014, Nassau Coliseum: Islanders, 4-3 (OT) The recap: The Capitals’ final tuneup for the Winter Classic unfolded much like their previous visit to Nassau Coliseum. They had overcome a rocky start, salvaged a three-goal deficit and even survived the scare of seeing defenseman Brooks Orpik crumple to the ice, clutch his knee and scream for help. Orpik needed help hobbling into the tunnel, but later returned for the New Years’ Day outdoor game.  And Washington again buckled beneath an overtime penalty, handing the Islanders seven power plays overall, including Kuznetsov’s double minor committed with 1:04 left in regulation, leading to defenseman Johnny Boychuk’s game-winner – three seconds before Kuznetsov released. Sound familiar?  The stars: Ovechkin completed the rousing comeback with an even-strength blast with 2:41 left in regulation and also assisted on Backstrom’s earlier goal that chopped the deficit to 3-2. Eleven Islanders recorded points, including Strome’s two assists.  The stat: 35. Saves made by Holtby, his second-highest total of the season. He also faced 39 shots, tied for second most during his record-tying 73 appearances this season.  The quote: “How many [penalties] did we take tonight. Six? Seven? It seemed in the second and third we were going over the boards quite often, and that’s not the way we want to play our game.” – Forward Brooks Laich, on self-explanatory matters.  The story: Orpik injures knee as Capitals again lose in overtime  Feb. 21, 2015, Verizon Center: Capitals, 3-2 (SO) The recap: By virtue of a shootout win, the Capitals clinched the season-series tiebreaker, which ultimately ensured home-ice advantage once they and the Islanders finished the regular season knotted at 101 points. They won four straight games for the first and only time under Trotz, survived Strome’s weak-side rebound with 47 seconds left in regulation and withstood a scoreless period to notch their second straight shootout victory, after starting the season 1-4 in the skills competition.  The stars: Kuznetsov notched the game-winning shootout goal in the first round. Holtby made 30 saves, but only faced one in overtime. Niskanen and forward Eric Fehr scored at even strength, including Niskanen’s first five-on-five goal this season. Defenseman Travis Hamonic and Strome scored for the Islanders.  The stat: 7. The number of three-game winning streaks Washington cobbled together under Trotz before finally reaching four. After the game, Trotz stepped behind the podium, smirked and flashed four fingers, since the entire lead-up had been stuffed with questions about his team’s inability to get over the hump. The glee didn’t last long, however; the Capitals soon embarked on a three-game losing streak, but have since won three straight on two more occasions.  The quote: “They’ve got a good team. I looked at that game, hopefully a playoff series at some point. Two very good hockey teams that mirror each other in a lot of ways in terms of some style.” – Clairvoyant Trotz, predicting this post.  The story: Capitals win in a shootout, finally get fourth consecutive victory\  A bittersweet first goal, then reassignment for Galiev  Capitals lose finale, but not home ice  Steinberg: The steady hand of Barry Trotz  Fancy Stats: Four goalies to avoid in the playoffs
Relive the four games this season, two captured by the Islanders in overtime, two by the Capitals, all victories secured by the home team.