It’s hard to imagine a tighter and more defensive game than the New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals one on Thursday night at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
In the first period, the Isles completely outplayed the Caps, outshooting them 15-4. But like he did all night, Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov stood on his head and was a brick wall.
The Caps came out in the second with a little extra buzz. New York’s netminder, Semyon Varlamov, was very impressive – stopping every shot thrown his way.
The third period was very tight. However, the boys in blue and orange only registered three shots on goal.
Heading into the overtime session, the score was knotted at zero.
Overtime was tight. Each team recorded just a single shot on goal. Jordan Eberle had a decent scoring chance, and the Islanders seemed to have possession for most of the three-on-three period, which ended up being scoreless.
Washington took the game in the shootout, claiming sole possession of first place in the MassMutual East Division. As disappointing as this game was, there are a few positives that can be drawn.
New York’s ability to play any style will go a long way come playoff time. While the Islanders went exactly known for scoring a ton of goals, they can score when they need to.
New York has also solidified a tremendous goalie tandem, one of the best in hockey. Despite the loss tonight, things are looking up for the blue and orange. It’s time to clinch a playoff spot and stay healthy.
The Islanders play next on Saturday against these same Capitals. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM Eastern Time.
