Pregame Notes: Washington Capitals at. New York Islanders Game 4

 Tonight is a big night, the series can either become tied again or the Islanders can put a 3-1 strangle hold on the Caps. The Caps have not won a road playoff game since Game 2 of the New York Rangers series in 2012. Here is the projected lineup.


Forwards:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Ward
Johansson-Kuznetsov-Chimera
Burakovsky-Beagle-Brouwer
Laich-Latta-Wilson


Defense and Goalies:

Orpik-Carlson
Alzner-Niskanen
Gleason-Green

Holtby
Grubauer


Other Notes:

*Eric Fehr will be out atleast the next two games for the Caps after the hit he took a hit from Kyle Okposo in Game 3. Michael Latta will have to get back into the lineup and will have to step up. Also, that means also that means Jay Beagle will play center on the 3rd line.

*It looks like Andre Burakovsky will make his playoff debut tonight and Curtis Glencross is going to be a scratch. Glencross has not been producing so Barry Trotz is trying to change things up.

*Marcus Johansson got a skate to the back of the leg in Game 3, however it looks like he will play tonight.

*First key for tonight is the Caps have to score first, they had a lot of success this season when scoring first. However, they have given up the first goal in each of the first 3 games of the series.

*Caps have to get the forecheck going right away, they can't sit back at all tonight. It has to be attack from the opening faceoff to try to get the crowd at Nassau Coliseum out of the game somehow. It will be tough be the series, and their season may depend on it.

*The Caps powerplay has to be better in this game, with the chances they do get they have to shoot and challenge Halak. They can't force the puck to Ovechkin.

*The Caps also need to put more pressure on Halak period. The only time in this series they tested him was Game 2, and they had success.

*Overall this is huge, no question the Caps have to have tonight's game. It's not over but it would mean they would have to climb a mountain against a tough team to win the series. Again the Caps have answered adversity all season, but not like this. They have to find a way to win a road playoff game.


Gametime 7:30 p.m on CSN, USA