Game 2 Notebook: Isles Take 2-0 Series Lead with 5-2 Win Over Caps

The New York Islanders extended their series lead to 2-0 after a dominating 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.

The New York Islanders extended their series lead to 2-0 after a dominating 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Friday night at Toronto's Scotiabank Arena.

BOXSCORE | FULL HIGHLIGHTS | THE SKINNY

After giving up a goal in the opening minute, the Isles bounced back with goals from Nick Leddy, Matt Martin, Brock Nelson, Cal Clutterbuck and an empty-netter from Anders Lee. In his sixth-straight start of the postseason, Semyon Varlamov stopped 23 shots.

The Caps' two goals were scored by Alexander Ovechkin and marked the sole goals relinquished by the Islanders at even-strength so far in the series.

"We played to our identity," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "We've got a mature group that doesn't get fazed...Our group prides itself on playing 60-minute game and longer if needed. The group gives you an honest effort night-in and night-out. They understand the importance of the end goal of winning a hockey game and how you're going to go about doing it. They've got a really good belief."

That maturity was needed early, as the Caps wasted no time in getting on the board. On just the second shift of the game - and 56 seconds from the drop of the puck - Ovechkin scored his first goal of the night. Ovechkin collected a rim pass around the boards from his linemate, Tom Wilson, that unintentionally bounced off the leg of Scott Mayfield. The Caps captain utilized his strength to cut towards the net and slipped a backhanded shot short-side of Varlamov.

Down by a goal to start the second period, the Isles turned a 1-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead by the second intermission. All within the span of 3:58, the Islanders got on the board, gained the lead, lost the lead and regained the lead again.

The mayhem ensued as Leddy put the Isles on the board with their first power-play goal of the series 2:56 into the second period. On the Isles third power play of the evening - courtesy of Nic Dowd, who was called for high-sticking on Jordan Eberle - Leddy sniped his shot from the point and just under the glove of Washington's goaltender, Braden Holtby.

Leddy recorded his first point of the postseason on the play, while Anthony Beauvillier and Josh Bailey extended their point streaks to six and three games, respectively.

The Isles took a 2-1 lead 2:05 later, as Martin lit the lamp for the second time in the postseason. Following a flurry of chances and a strong Isles forecheck, Mayfield denied the Caps' attempted clear and instead, centered the puck towards the slot. Martin crashed the paint and was able to squeak a redirected shot past the backside of Holtby.

Washington evened the score 2-2 just 1:38 after Martin's goal on an extended shift in the offensive zone. Ovechkin scored his second of the evening as he crashed the crease and redirected the initial point shot taken from Brenden Dillon past Varlamov.

The score was tied for just 15 seconds before the Isles regained the lead, as Nelson scored his third goal of the season on a tremendous forechecking effort and subsequent breakaway.

Nelson pressured Washington's Jakub Vrana at the Isles' blueline and forced the turnover. As the Isles center sped down the ice, he snapped his shot past Holtby's blocker to make put his team up 3-2.

"Getting the one back right away to establish a lead [was huge]," Nelson said. "We've all been there where it happens against us. It can be deflating. That was a big time and we were able to get some chances and some possession. There's going to be little flows and changes in the game like that and we want to come out on top."

Holding onto a fragile one-goal lead, the Islanders kept their foot on the pedal in the third period. The Isles were outshot 12-8 in the final period and went on the penalty kill twice, but stayed the course and hemmed-in their frustrated opponent in clinical display to end the game.

Staying true to their identity, the Isles' persistence paid off and they created their own chances off of their relentless forecheck. In the last five minutes of regulation, the Islanders amplified their abrasive play and doubled their lead with just under three minutes to play.

Clutterbuck tipped in a shot from Jean-Gabriel Pageau following the effort from Leo Komarov to force the initial turnover from under the goal line. Lee iced the game with an empty-netter, his second tally in as many games.

"I liked our third period," Trotz said. "Guys have committed to that effort. We didn't back off. We just stayed to our game and we got the result we wanted."

SPECIAL TEAMS SUCCESS:

Despite winning Game 1 in the series, the Isles were looking to shore up their special teams after taking seven penalties, allowing two power-play goals and going 0-for-4 on the power play. In Game 2, the Islanders held the advantage in special teams as they went 1-for-5 on the power play and posted a perfect 2-for-2 showing on the penalty kill, which also highlighted their commitment to discipline.

The Isles scored their first power-play goal of the series and their fifth of the postseason. In doing so, the Isles snapped the Capitals' penalty kill's perfect streak that had killed 14-of-14 straight penalties prior.

During the postseason, the Isles have experimented with different players in different roles on both of their power-play units. In Game 2, the power play that scored featured Leddy quarterbacking the unit, with Bailey and Derick Brassard on the sides, Beauvillier in the bumper spot and Nelson down low.

In the third period, the Islanders went on the kill twice. Their penalty kill stood tall against the Caps' lethal power play, who had scored twice in Game 1, and looked to seize the opportunity to keep their hopes alive despite trailing by one goal.

"When you need a kill and you're in a one-goal game, and you've got that [Washington] power play that has those weapons on it and can hurt you in so many ways, you need that big kill in those moments," Trotz said. "Our guys were big in that moment. When you need those kills, we got it done in a real important time."

VARLAMOV STANDS TALL:

The Isles goaltender made his sixth-straight start of the postseason and improved his record to 5-1. Despite relinquishing two even-strength goals against the Caps, Varlamov posted a solid performance and was clutch when the Isles needed their goaltender to make timely saves.

In the second period with just under seven minutes remaining and a tenuous one-goal lead, Varlamov denied Carl Hagelin on a shorthanded breakaway.

As the Caps retaliated the Isles' suffocating play in the third period and held an 7-0 shot on goal edge to start the frame, Varlamov kept the Caps at bay. Following a long Caps' possession the Isles netminder flashed leather on a John Carlson one-timer from the right faceoff circle.

"He's been efficient and he's been focused," Trotz said. "You get the timely saves. I thought we had a couple of them. We had a couple of big moments. When Hagelin had the breakaway, you need that save in that moment and he was able to make that save."

RESILIENCY RISES:

Following a resilient and physical battle that ensued in Game 1, the Islanders dressed the same lineup. Trotz was pleased with his team's commitment to playing their detailed style of Islander hockey and wearing down a multi-faceted team in Washington.

After outshooting the Capitals 32-25, the Islanders have now allowed fewer than 30 shots for eight-straight games marking the first time since an eight-game stretch back in April-May 1984, per Eric Hornick's The Skinny.

"Five-on-five, you want to try and roll guys over the bench," Nelson said. "We've got four lines that can play and everybody can chip in. You saw it today. We got a big goal by Marty and Clutter. Five-on-five, we want to get everybody involved. That's part of our identity."

BEAUVILLIER, NELSON AND BAILEY EXTEND POINT STREAKS:

Since the start of the postseason, the Isles line of Beauvillier, Nelson and Bailey has been a force to be reckoned with. The line kept the momentum going as each member of the trio extended their individual point streaks.

Beauvillier, who leads the Isles in goals, extended his point streak to six games with seven points (4G, 3A) during that span. Bailey, who leads the Isles in assists, extended his point streak to three games with five points (1G, 4A). Nelson, scored his third goal in four games and extended his point streak to four games. The center has compiled six points (3G, 3A) in his last four games.

NEXT GAME:

The Islanders and Capitals return for Game 3 on Sunday afternoon at 12 p.m. ET at Scotiabank Arena.