The Islanders blew an early 2-0 lead against the Capitals in Game 4 when they had a chance to sweep them. In Game 5, they took a 2-0 lead from the center of the second period, thanks to Anthony Beauvillier, and they did not intend to blow it again.
Beauvillier had the only two goals of the game until Washington pulled Braden Holtby for an extra striker. The Islands scored two empty net goals to seal the deal and Semyon Varlamov struck a shutout for good measure when New York eliminated Washington in five games.
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First period: A conservative lead
The Islanders did not fully play the way they were used to in the first period, but they did their best to close down any chances the Capitals might have had.
That being said, they converted their first power play of the game, which is a rarity for this team. : 17 were passed on the man advantage when Beauvillier put the puck past Braden Holtby.
Beauvillier held the puck and skated over the wing before passing it to Josh Bailey on the opposite wing. Bailey put Brock Nelson in the bumper spot for a one-timer that was stopped by Holtby. But Holtby released a pretty powerful handball that went straight to Nelson. Nelson beat Beauvillier for once and it went into Carl Hagelin’s glove, although Holtby was probably not over for it.
Second period: Islanders hockey with some insurance
The second period was a quintessential period of Islanders. They were all over the puck and won most of the 50/50 battles without giving much space to Washington. There were a few narrow moments, including Mathew Barzal who turned out to be injured right for the purpose described below.
The sweetness: Beauvillier added his second goal of the game and his sixth total in the bubble, which binds him for the preseason, on a beautiful play. But perhaps the sexiest job is to set the goal by Bailey. Bailey grabbed the puck after a blow in the defensive zone. He shuffled through the neutral zone and, crossing the blue line from Washington, threw the puck down to a Beauvillier stretch.
As Beauvillier ran over Holtby’s cringe, he put the puck on his evil backhand and put it in the cage, flew through the air and took a shitty hit from Tom Wilson in the post in the process. Beauvillier appeared a little shocked right after the goal, but both he and his buddy Barzal were back on the ice for their next shifts.
Third period: Lockdown Mode
The islanders knew they were only 20 minutes away from progress. All they had to do was play their game, and they did.
The capitals tried their hardest to get things going, but I can not remember, from the top of my head, every second chance they had. I also can not remember opportunities for high danger.
But I did not feel comfortable until Nick Leddy’s backhand went out of his own zone in the empty net. Bailey added another low-netter to really put it off, and the Islanders stepped through. Illuminate the Empire State Building. What a beautiful view it is from my roof here in Crown Heights.
Next
That we know the islands are in the Semifinals of the Eastern Conference. Like the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. While the playoffs are re-seeded each round (as they were there for most of my childhood), the Islanders can only play the Flyers (if they eliminate the Canadiens) or the Bruins (if the Habs return and knock out the Flyers ). That, we are waiting for who we meet. Either way, bring them along.
