The Washington Capitals are in an 0-2 hole after a Game 2 loss.
The Washington Capitals were hoping for a better result Friday night but instead got more of the same. They lost 5-2 and once again the two Caps goals scored were by one player, this time Alex Ovechkin.
56 seconds into the first period Ovechkin played the puck on his skates before backhanding the puck into the net for his first goal of the playoffs to put the Caps up 1-0. Tom Wilson and John Carlson had the helpers. That would be the score after the opening period with the Islanders leading in shots 12-6.
The Islanders got on the board with a goal from Nick Leddy at 2:56 in the second. They took the lead with a goal from Matt Martin at 5:01. The Caps would even the score with Ovechkin’s second of the night. On a shot from Brenden Dillon off the pass from Dmitry Orlov, Ovechkin rebounded Dillon’s shot into the net at 6:39.
More from Capitals News
- Breaking down the Rookie Camp roster
- Hear what Magic Johnson said about Alex Ovechkin
- Capitals announce Rookie Camp schedule
- Breaking down the 2023-24 Capitals national TV schedule
- Capitals Alumni Weekend is coming back
15 seconds later, literally, the Isles retook the lead with breakaway goal from Brock Nelson. 3-2 was the score after two periods. The Islanders led in shots 12-7 in the second.
The Islanders defense once again suffocated the life out of the Caps and they grinded their way to two late third period goals to seal the win. First it was Cal Clutterbuck at 17:14 then an empty net goal from none other than Anders Lee at 18:21.
Now the Caps are in an 0-2 series hole. The last time they were in this situation was the first round in 2018 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. But that team was far different than the current one. Nonetheless the Caps have a must win game on Sunday.
“We’ve been in this situation… We know how to fight, we know how to play,” said Ovechkin.
“A lot of things need to change… We haven’t played those big moments well so far and we don’t sway the momentum when things aren’t going our way enough,” added Carlson.
The Caps outshot the Islanders 12-8 in the third but were outshot 32-25 overall. The Caps were unable to score on both of their power plays while the penalty kill stopped four of five.
“I think we are confident in our team and totally unsatisfied with the way we’ve played… We are capable but we got to work for it,” expressed Carlson.
The Caps will look to get on the board in the series on Sunday afternoon in an early 12 noon puck drop. I don’t care if the game is at 4 a.m., they better be ready.