Islanders vs. Capitals: Preview and Prediction for the 2015 NHL Playoffs Matchup

The New York Islanders and Washington Capitals are set to embark on a classic Patrick Division matchup in the first round of the playoffs.

The NHL may use the term Metropolitan to describe the team's current division, but the term is seldom used today, unless you are WFAN's Steve Somers diving into some New York Mets baseball during the late-night schmooze. 

Regardless, the two teams are going to give it their all in a very important first-round matchup, and there is a lot on the line for both squads. With that in mind, here's a look at the series for the Islanders and Capitals.

Regular-Season Wrap

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Some classic nostalgia.

New York Islanders

The New York Islanders finished 2014-15 with 101 points, and it was the first time the team reached that plateau since the 1983-84 season. It has been quite some time since the team finished with some serious success, and Jaroslav Halak even set a team record for wins by a goaltender in a regular season with 38.

The Islanders are looking to win a few more playoff battles in Fort Neverlose, as the old Nassau Memorial Coliseum will no longer be their home.

Washington Capitals

The Capitals also finished with 101 points, but holding the advantage in the tie breaker column allowed them to secure a home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. It was Barry Trotz's first season coaching in the NHL behind a non-Nashville Predators bench, and a number of players flourished under his tutelage.

The Capitals will look to have some extended playoff success, and they appear to be in better shape this year than in years past.

Schedule and TV Info

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Game 1

Wednesday, April 15

7 p.m. ET

NY Islanders at Washington

USA, Sportsnet and TVA Sports

Game 2

Friday, April 17

7 p.m. ET

NY Islanders at Washington

NBCSN, Sportsnet and TVA Sports

Game 3

Sunday, April 19

Noon ET

Washington at NY Islanders

NBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports

Game 4

Tuesday, April 21

7:30 p.m. ET

Washington at NY Islanders

USA, SN 360, TVA Sports

Game 5*

Thursday, April 23

TBD

NY Islanders at Washington

TBD

Game 6*

Saturday, April 25

TBD

Washington at NY Islanders

TBD

Game 7*

Monday, April 27

TBD

NY Islanders at Washington

TBD

*If necessary.

Key Storylines

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Islanders Are Moving To Brooklyn

You can expect the fact that the Islanders are moving to Brooklyn to be repeated a few times throughout the playoffs. It is significant because during the Islanders' hey day, they dominated at Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders held the fourth-best home record in the Eastern Conference this season at 25-14-2, and they will look to make the most of what could be their final games at Fort Neverlose.

The Capitals Are Underdogs For a Change

For a change, the Capitals are underdogs in the Eastern Conference. During the team's tenure with Bruce Boudreau behind the bench, the Capitals were consistently among the leaders in the league, and additional expectations were placed on them. 

The Capitals had a solid first season with Barry Trotz at the helm, and he has been able to keep things at an even keel for the majority of the season. He is a skilled tactician and leader, and he may be the key to getting Washington into the later rounds of the playoffs.

How will the Islanders contain Alex Ovechkin?

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an Alex Ovechkin slap shot from the circle! The "Gr8 Eight" captured his fifth Rocket Richard Trophy and scored 53 goals. Interestingly enough, as Steve Dangle of Sportsnet pointed out, this season wasn't drastically different from last season, except for that pesky plus-minus column.

Getting back to the matter at hand, stopping Ovechkin is going to be a hot topic, because he could lead to the demise of the Islanders. He's an elusive player, and the Islanders' defense may be unable to contain him during a potential seven-game series.

Players to Watch

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John Tavares, New York Islanders

The Islanders' fearless leader has 401 points in 432 regular season games, but this will only be his second playoff series. He tallied five points in six games against the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2013 and will be in for another test against Washington. He can be a difference-maker, and the Islanders' playoff success will likely correlate with how well Johnny T is playing.

Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

Nicklas Backstrom is one of the NHL's most underrated players, and that's backed up by the fact that he's never been an All-Star. This season, he finished with 78 points, and although it was a drop from the pace he's become accustomed to, his defensive game has improved under Barry Trotz. It is fair to say that Backstrom is now equally dangerous in all three zones, and he could be a game-breaker against the Isles.

Kyle Okposo, New York Islanders

Kyle Okposo is one of the Islanders' best players, but he hasn't been the same since suffering an injury. The talented winger had 44 points in 46 games before the All-Star break but only seven in the 14 games after returning from injury.

If he gets back to form, he can be a factor, but there's also a chance he could be a liability if his game isn't where it needs to be against a very dangerous Capitals team.

Goaltender Breakdown

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Jaroslav Halak, New York Islanders

Jaroslav Halak set a team record for the Islanders by finishing the season with 38 wins. He went 38-17-4 with a 2.43 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. He also tallied six shutouts for the Islanders and will look to shut down the Capitals for the second time in his NHL career.

Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals

Goalie guru Mitch Korn was able to really help Braden Holtby find his game this season, and the 25-year-old had an amazing season. Holtby went 41-20-10 with a 2.22 goals-against average, .923 save percentage and nine shutouts. That was good enough for second, seventh, fifth and second in the NHL in each respective goaltending category.

Biggest Mismatch: Top-End Talent

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In terms of top-end talent, the Islanders come up flat next to the Capitals. Washington has Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, John Carlson, Mike Green, Braden Holtby and an underrated Marcus Johansson. The Islanders have John Tavares, Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy, Jaroslav Halak and a less-than-100-percent Kyle Okposo.

The two groups are vastly different, and the Capitals have a clear advantage.

"Yes, yes, yes..."— The Islanders do have some talented kids in Ryan Strome, Anders Lee and Brock Nelson, but they lack playoff experience and all cooled off dramatically during the second half of the season.

When you take their pre- and post-All-Star numbers and put them together, the trio's points-per-game average dropped from 0.60 to 0.49. It isn't uncommon for young players to go cold in the playoffs, and that is something to watch out for against a veteran Capitals squad.

The Capitals Will Win If Halak Continues to Be a Bad Goalie, Offense Dominates

Jaroslav Halak has a 10-11 record in the playoffs, with a .923 save percentage and a 2.42 goal-against average. The majority of that came with the Montreal Canadiens during the 2009-10 season.

Recently, Halak has played some horrendous hockey, and his gaffe against the Philadelphia Flyers may have some fans worried. 

The Capitals are a smashmouth, in-your-face offensive juggernaut, and Halak is a goalie prone to taking a pummeling of pucks. If he doesn't tighten up his form and show some better puck control, the offensively gifted Capitals will make short work of the Islanders.

Halak was playing better for New York earlier this season, and he needs to channel that form going forward.

The Islanders Will Win If Tavares Is Great and Rookies Step Up

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John Tavares is the Islanders' best player, and he is going to have to step up his game. He stepped it up during the regular season, but he needs to take it to 11 against the Caps. He was able to go head-to-head with Sidney Crosby, and now he will have to go up against a very tough opponent in Nicklas Backstrom.

In addition to Tavares stepping up, the kids will also have to be all right. That means Ryan Strome, Anders Lee, Brock Nelson and Co. will have to get back to playing like they did earlier in the season. If the youngsters can adjust to the intensity of playoff hockey and produce, there's a good chance the Islanders will pull this one out.

Prediction: Capitals Win in Five

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The Islanders had a good season, but it just isn't their time yet. The team's drop in the second half of the season—it went 15-14-6 after the All-Star break—indicates it doesn't quite have what it takes to win it all.

A year or two from now, they will have a better-rounded defense and a more experienced forward core. The Capitals' advantage at just about every position is huge, especially at goaltender.

The Isles may be unable to solve a netminder who has played as well as Holtby, and Halak may fall prone to a dynamic Capitals offensive assault. The Islanders will put up a good fight like they did against Pittsburgh, but this is the Capitals' series to lose.

Stats via Hockey-Reference and NHL.com.