New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals Predictions, Picks And Preview– 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eastern Conference First Round Game 7 – April 27, 2015
So far the series between the New York Islanders and the Washington Capitals is what everyone expects it to be: high tension, thrilling, and physical. Unfortunately, both teams can only play as many as seven games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. One team’s dream of hoisting the Stanley Cup this season is about to end later tonight as the Islanders and the Caps punctuate their first round series with an electrifying Game 7 matchup. Read on for more about this game below.
[sc:NHLArticles ]
New York Islanders vs. Washington Capitals Betting Preview
Series Scores & Schedule
Game 1 — April 15, New York Islanders 4 at Washington Capitals 1
Game 2 — April 17, New York Islanders 3 at Washington Capitals 4
Game 3 — April 19, Washington Capitals 1 at New York Islanders 2 (OT)
Game 4 — April 21, Washington Capitals 2 (OT) at New York Islanders 1
Game 5 — April 23, New York Islanders 1 at Washington Capitals 5
Game 6 — April 25, Washington Capitals 1 at New York Islanders 3
Game 7 — April 27, 7: 30 PM ET, New York Islanders (+120) at Washington Capitals (-140); total: 5.0 — view all NHL lines
Betting on the New York Islanders
Nassau Coliseum can still hope it can host another Islanders game. That’s after the Islanders won at home on Saturday, 3-1, to force a Game 7 against Washington. But if they are to return to Uniondale for at least one more series, the Islanders will have to eke out a win on the road on Monday. The Isles are 2-2 in their last four road games.
[sc:NHL240 ]In Saturday’s game, John Tavares made his mark anew as he scored a goal and picked up an assist to help New York extend its season. Tavares now has a team-leading six points in this postseason, having scored two goals to go along with four assists thus far in the series. The pressure is huge for Tavares to deliver again in Game 7, but he’ll also have to get help from his teammates.
Anders Lee, who scored 25 goals in the regular season—second most in the team—is one Islander, who’ll have to show up. But that’s if head coach Jack Capuano doesn’t scratch him again. Otherwise, Capuano will have to hope that other Islanders’ scorers and playmakers like Josh Bailey, Ryan Strome, Kyle Okposo, and Brock Nelson will make a difference. All six players have scored two goals each on the series.
Capuano scratched Lee in Game 6 because of his ineffectiveness, coming up with just one point (an assist in Game 1) thus far in the series.
Jaroslav Halak, meanwhile, bounced back strong from his bad performance in Game 5, by blocking all but one of Washington’s 39 shots in Game 6. Halak enters Monday’s game with a 2.34 goals against average and .926 save percentage in six starts in this series.
The Capitals have the reputation of being a talented team that keeps on coming up short in the playoffs over the past few seasons. Alexander Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom have been part of those recent Caps teams, and they can help stop that perception if Washington eliminates the Islanders at home later tonight. Washington is 5-5 in its last 10 home games against the Islanders.
Ovechkin has had underwhelming performances over the last two Caps’ games. During that stretch, Ovechkin only has an assist to show, while going scoreless on four shots on goal. As for Backstrom, he’s also fallen silent since netting a goal and making an assist in Washington’s Game 4 victory. Backstrom has yet to register a point in two games following that win.
Granted that the Islanders’ defense is mightily focused on Ovechkin and Backstrom, the duo still have to find a way to matter on offense, just as they had in Game 4, wherein they took a combined 13 shots on goal to finish with two goals, and two assists. If anything, the Islanders’ injury-riddled blue line (Travis Hamonic, Lubomir Visnovsky and Calvin de Haan are questionable for Game 7) should help Ovechkin and Backstrom recover their deadly forms on offense.
