Islanders Playoff News: It will be the Capitals

We know who the Islanders’ next opponent will be—Barry Trotz’s most recent team, the Washington Capitals.

It is going to be a fun series filled with old feelings and bruises.

Tonight’s only order of NHL business is Phase 2 of the Draft Lottery for all the losers in the Qualifying Round. That’ll be at 6:00 p.m. EST tonight.

Round 1 begins tomorrow with four games, start times ranging from 3:00 p.m.—10:30 p.m. The Islanders and Capitals play Game 1 on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. EST. Here’s the full slate:

Islanders News

• I’m repeating myself, but the Islanders will play the Capitals in the First Round. [NHL | Islanders] We knew it would be either the Bruins or the Capitals, and Washington came out the winner of their round robin game. [Newsday]
• WATCH: Trotz spoke to the media Sunday about facing his old team and a series between the Islanders and Capitals in general. [Islanders]
• Washington’s got star power that the Islanders do not, but Trotz has the advantage of having coached them for four years. [Newsday]
• Johnny Boychuk is expected to be ready for Game 1 on Wednesday. He was critical in these teams’ most recent series, but that was five years ago. [NHL]
• LISTEN: Mike and Dan chat about beating the Panthers and stare down Washington. [LHH]
• Among the takeaways from the Isles’ win over Florida were Semyon Varlamov’s strong goaltending and the defensive depth. [Islanders]
• Another takeaway, one that eventually developed into its own article, was that the line of Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson, and Josh Bailey became a formidable trio. [Islanders]
• The Islanders were a bit of a mess before the pause, maybe starting to clean up a little; but coming out of the pause, they’re refocused. And it showed in the Panthers series. [Newsday]
• Jordan Eberle talked to a radio station in his hometown of Regina, SK about life inside the bubble.
• J-G Pageau was the winner of the Ping Pong Tournament the Islanders held in the bubble. He came out for the final match in dramatic fashion (video in the LHH link). [LHH | Islanders]

A little foreshadowing for the scores...

Elsewhere

Yesterday’s NHL scores include the Capitals beating the Bruins in the last round robin game in the East while the Stars won the last round robin game in the West, thereby holding last year’s Stanley Cup finalists winless in the round robin. Also, the Blue Jackets eliminated the Maple Leafs in Game 5 with a 3-0 shutout by Joonas Korpisalo.

• The Lightning may be without both Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman when their series with Columbus opens on Tuesday. [NHL]
• Sidney Crosby admits that the Penguins’ window may be closing after the Cup Qualifiers stunner. [NHL]
• Take the 2020 Bracket Challenge! [NHL]