Game 2 Preview: Islanders at Capitals

NEW YORK ISLANDERS AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS
GM 2 | AUG. 14 | 8 PM | SCOTIABANK ARENA
ISLES LEAD BEST-OF-SEVEN SERIES 1-0
WATCH: MSG+ | MSG GO | NBCSN | FX-CA | TVAS | NHL.TV
LISTEN: 88.7FM | 98.7FM | 103.9 FM | SIRIUSXM CH. 91
After rallying for a rousing 4-2 win in Game 1, the New York Islanders are expecting a push from the Washington Capitals in Game 2 on Friday night (8 p.m., MSG+, NBCSN, 88.7FM).
"Our confidence is high, but at the same time, we just won one game, we haven't won anything yet," Derick Brassard said on Thursday. "We are going to expect their best tomorrow for Game 2… I'm sure our coaches are going to try and adjust a few things for Game 2."

ISLES LOOKING TO STAY DISCIPLINED:

After sending the Capitals to seven power plays in Game 1, the Islanders are looking to cut down on their penalties and stay more disciplined heading into Game 2.
"The biggest thing is we have to stay disciplined, there's a fine line and we have to make you play on it and no go over it," Scott Mayfield said on Thursday.
While the Islanders PK had a more impactful night than their 5-for-7 stat line indicated - one of the Caps' goals came off a fluky bounce and Josh Bailey's game-winner was shorthanded - they'd rather not tempt fate a second time.
"We had some big kills," Mayfield said. "The goals they did get were fluky goals off the end wall and a diving play there in front. In the first period we killed three right away… You get momentum from that, but at the same time you give them more video, more stuff to look at it."

The Isles were very strong at five-on-five in Game 1 and they'd like to keep Game 2 at even strength as much as possible, not only to keep the Caps power play off the ice, but get offensive players like Mathew Barzal and Jordan Eberle on it.
Through five postseason games, the Isles have only allowed three five-on-five goals, while allowing six power-play goals to their opponent over that span.
While preaching discipline is easy, keeping cool in a chippy and heated rivalry is a little tougher. The Isles are expecting a fired up Caps team after Game 1, especially after losing a star player in Nicklas Backstrom (more on that below).
"We're just going to stay the course," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "Whatever happens, we're well-equipped to play; if you want to play physical we'll play physical, that's no problem, we're just going to play our game. We have one way to play and we have to play it."

BACKSTROM OUT, ELLER IN:

Nicklas Backstrom left Wednesday's game after taking an Anders Lee hit in the opening minutes of the first period. Backstrom is in concussion protocol, according to Capitals Head Coach Todd Reirdon.
Backstrom is a big loss for the Capitals, as he was the team's third-leading scorer and rode shotgun with Alex Ovechkin before leaving Game 1. Evgeny Kuznetsov is slated to take Backstrom's role on the top line.
Just because Backstrom is out doesn't mean the Isles can take the Capitals lightly. Backstrom missed four games of Washington's Stanley Cup run in 2018, with the Caps winning three of the four games.
While Backstrom is out, Lars Eller draws back into the lineup. Eller was held out of Game 1, as he missed a week to complete a mandatory quarantine after leaving the bubble for the birth of his second child. Eller was eligible to play on Wednesday, but after a week without on-ice activity, the team held him out, per Washington Post reporter Samantha Pell.
Eller, who had 39 points (16G, 23A) in 69 regular season games, is projected to play with TJ Oshie and Jakub Vrana according to the Capitals' official site.

ISLES LINEUP NOTES:

Trotz did not offer any updates to the Islanders lineup ahead of Game 2.
"Right now we feel comfortable with the group that we have," Trotz said. "If we make any changes, there will maybe be only one change."
Asked specifically about Ross Johnston, who would increase the Isles physical presence, Trotz said that all of his healthy players are in the mix if a change is made.

ISLES NOTES:

The Islanders are technically the road team for Friday's Game 2, even though both teams are playing in a neutral site at Scotiabank Arena. That said, with Wednesday's win, the road team has won nine-straight meetings between the clubs dating back to the start of the 2018-19 season.
Anthony Beauvillier is riding a five-game point streak, with six points (4G, 2A) over that span. Beauvillier is tied with Josh Bailey (1G, 5A) for the team lead in points.

Per
Eric Hornick's Skinny
, the Isles have allowed fewer than 30 shots for seven-straight games for the first time since an eight-game stretch in April-May 1984.
Mathew Barzal has four points (1G, 3A) in his last two games, giving him five total points (1G, 4A) in five playoff games. Barzal now has 12 points (3G, 9A) in his first 13 playoff games.