The Caps made news on Tuesday morning when senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced the hiring of Peter Laviolette as the 19th coach in the franchise's history, and the first one ever hired in the month of September. Laviolette, who won the Stanley Cup as head coach of the 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes, also becomes the first of those 19 Caps coaches to take the job in the District with a Cup title on his résumé.

Three days after a disappointing first-round Stanley Cup Playoff exit in five games at the hands of the New York Islanders, the Capitals announced on Sunday morning that they have relieved Todd Reirden of his head coaching duties. Caps GM Brian MacLellan made the announcement after a Sunday morning meeting with Reirden.

A season that began with comeback win and a great deal of hope in St. Louis some ten and a half months ago ended in ashes in Toronto on Thursday night when the Caps came up empty in an elimination situation in Game 5 against the New York Islanders. Playing their second must-win game in three nights, the Caps couldn't find any kind of spark and they bowed out meekly in a 4-0 loss.

Do It Again - Despite a rocky start to Tuesday's Game 4, the Caps rallied to win 3-2, forcing a Game 5 tonight in which they'll still have their backs to the proverbial wall. After a dismal first 10 minutes on Tuesday, the Caps settled down and settled in, and they finished the game with their best 50-minute stretch of the series to date.

August 20 at New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto

Time: 8 p.m.

TV: NBCSW

Radio: Capitals Radio 24/7, 94.7 FM The Drive

Washington Capitals

New York Islanders

Game 5, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series, Islanders lead 3-1

Don't Bury Me 'Cuz I'm Not Dead Yet - For the first 10 minutes of Tuesday night's must-win Game of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoff series with the New York Islanders, things didn't look good for the Capitals.

A furious comeback from an early two-goal hole was just enough for the Capitals to stave off elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Tuesday night in Toronto. Despite falling down early, the Caps finally found their 'A' game, playing their best hockey of the series for about 40 minutes in a 3-2 win in Game 4.

Need One - Tuesday night's Game 4 is a win-or-go-home game for the Capitals, who are down 0-3 in their opening round playoff series to the New York Islanders. Less than a week ago, Washington carried a 2-0 lead into the last two minutes of the second period in Game 1, but the Isles have outscored Washington's vaunted offensive attack by a combined 11-3 since.

August 18 at New York Islanders at Scotiabank Arena, Toronto

Time: 8 p.m.

TV: NBCSW

Radio: Capitals Radio 24/7, 94.7 FM The Drive

Washington Capitals

New York Islanders

Game 4, Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series, Islanders lead 3-0

Three Games Down - Washington made several lineup changes and adjustments ahead of Sunday afternoon's Game 3 of its first-round playoff series with the New York Islanders. While the Caps' overall performance might have been marginally better than its prior low bar outings, the result was the same. The Caps forced overtime, but fell 2-1 on a Mathew Barzal goal early in the extra session.