Washington Capitals: It all starts now in Game 1

Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

It’s gameday Washington Capitals fans.

The Washington Capitals open the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs this afternoon as they take on old friend Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders in what is sure to be an entertaining series. Both teams split the regular season series over the last two seasons and this season the road team won each game.

The last time these teams met in the postseason was the first round in 2015. Six current Caps played in that seven game series with Nicklas Backstrom leading the way with three goals and three assists. Evgeny Kuznetsov helped win the series with a game-winning goal in Game 7. This will mark the eighth time they met in the playoffs.

When the teams last met it was in January of 2020 in a time where we didn’t know what we’d be in for several weeks later. Alex Ovechkin led the way with his 28th career hat trick to help the Caps score five unanswered goals to stun the Islanders 6-4 at Nassau Coliseum.

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Todd Reirden met with the media yesterday and gave two updates. The first being that John Carlson will be a game time decision. Carlson has missed the last three round robin games due to injury but has still practiced with the team. It seemed like they kept him out as a precaution.

The second update Reirden gave was about Lars Eller. He’s finishing up his quarantine after he left the bubble for the birth of his baby boy Alexander (that’s a pretty good name). He will not play this afternoon.

More. Washington Capitals vs Islanders Series Preview: Looking At The Stats. light

Can the Caps get this series off on the right foot? Here’s how to find out.

Date: Wednesday, August 12, 2020
Time: 3 p.m.
Where: Scotiabank Arena
TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Network
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, Caps Radio 24/7
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