The Isles led 2-0 in Game 4, but the Caps staved off elimination and forced Game 5 with three unanswered goals, including one on the power play to defeat the Isles.
Semyon Varlamov made his eighth start between the pipes for the Islanders with 26 saves and suffered his second loss of the postseason. Braden Holtby made 24 saves in the win.
ISLES-CAPS GAME 5
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Game 4 Recap
Isles Day to Day: Clutterbuck Available for Game 5
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Highlights: WSH 3, NYI 2
Trotz Availability 08/19
Player Availability 08/19
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"Playoffs are all about momentum," Head Coach Barry Trotz said. "They're all about adjustments and they're all about how you react. I didn't like how we reacted. We didn't have enough push. We didn't have enough will to beat a good, desperate team."
The Isles were expecting a desperate and intense effort from Washington, but after taking a 2-0 lead in the first period, deviated from their own details and identity. In turn, the Caps took advantage of their momentum and seized their opportunities.
Fortunately, the Isles put themselves in a "phenomenal" situation, according to Anders Lee, with a 3-1 series lead and three more cracks at advancing. They're eager to re-attempt to close out the series in Game 5 and return to play to the style and discipline that's provided them with success.
"They're a good hockey team," Matt Martin said. "They still have that same core group of guys [that won the Stanley Cup in 2018]. They weren't going to go away without a fight...They're a good team, we knew that coming into the series. We knew they were going to fight. They outplayed us the second [period] and for the most part in the third [period]. Now, it's up to us to get back to our game and respond the right way. We've got a chance to do that [in Game 5]. We still like where we're at in the series and still have a lot of confidence in the group."