Pregame Notes: Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders Game 5

 The first four games of this series has been a battle. A back and forth battle that was evened up after Nick Backstrom's overtime winner in Game 4 on Long Island. The series shifts back to D.C for Game 5. Here is the lineup based on the morning skate.

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:

*Andre Burakovsky played in his first career playoff game on Tuesday, and played well. So, Barry Trotz sticks with him and Curtis Glencross will be scratched again.

*Tom Wilson's hit on Lubomir Visnovsky was not very liked by the Islanders. If the Islanders try to go after Wilson he will just have to skate away and let the Isles take a penalty.

*The Caps penalty kill was huge in Game 4, I'm sure the Islanders will make adjustments and shoot more so the Caps will have to block shots and do what they did the other night.

*Nick Backstrom has been great and if he continues to play the way he's playing then it will help the Caps defend their home ice.

*The Powerplay needs to be a little bit better, I expect them to get more than one tonight. If they can score one on then it will make things difficult for the Islanders.

*The Caps have to continue to score goals like they have in the last three games of the series. Have to get traffic infront of Jaro Halak. Shoot from the point and get deflections and rebounds.

*Caps have to get pucks out of their own zone cleanly tonight, can't telegraph passes and turn the puck over.

*Braden Holtby has played great the last two games, the defense corp has to protect him and make sure he sees the puck.

*Overall Game 5 in a 2-2 series is important, the Caps and Islanders have been battling and it's been nerve wrecking but it's also been very fun as well. The Verizon Center faithful need to go crazy tonight and see if they can help the boys take a 3-2 series lead going back to New York on Saturday. Should be a heck of a game.

Gametime 7:00 p.m on CSN, USA