Islanders vs Capitals Game Five: Odds, Lineups, TV and more

The New York Islanders will look to close out their series with the Washington Capitals tonight at 8:00 p.m. Here’s everything to know about the matchup.

Even after all the disappointment in their last game, the New York Islanders have another great opportunity tonight to beat the Washington Capitals and advance to the Second Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After starting off game four great, with an early two goal lead, the Islanders were taken off their game plan by an extremely physical and aggressive Washington Capitals roster. The Caps dominated the second and third periods and beat the Isles 3-2.

Since tonight is game five, the Isles will be the away team. This will allow the Caps to play the favorable matchups they want, as Alex Ovechkin looks to keep his red-hot scoring streak alive and keep the Capitals in the playoffs.

Tale of the Tape

Betting Odds

The Islanders come into today as the underdogs, courtesy of the Action network.

This is the fourth time this series that the Isles are the underdogs. I expect the Islanders to get back on track and back to the game plan that makes them so successful. The Capitals will be in desperation mode, but the Islanders will be up for the challenge.

The underdogs are a great play in this one!

Projected Lineups

Most Islanders fans would say that Tuesday night was the worst performance of the Islanders’ post season. The Isles lacked the effort and drive that we all saw during the first three games of the series.

With that being said, Barry Trotz and the rest of the Isles coaching staff are contemplating making a few changes to their game five lineup.

Many fans are calling for the removal of Leo Komarov from the lineup. The Islanders may make this change and put either Tom Kuhnhackl or Ross Johnston in. Kuhnhackl provides the Isles with an immense amount of playoff experience and can kill penalties. While Johnston is the more physical option, he plays a heavy game and will not back down from a fight.

Johnny Boychuk is projected to return to the lineup. Boychuk has not played since game one of the qualifier series, where he left the game injured. Boychuk has been healthy, but Andy Greene has done such a terrific job in relief for him that Boychuk could not get his spot back. Boychuk provides the blue and orange defense with more grit and will matchup well against the physical Capitals.

Semyon Varlamov will be in net and will look to close out the series for the Islanders.

The Islanders are projected to lineup like this:

Lee-Barzal-Eberle
Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey
Kuhnhackl-Pageau-Brassard
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

Pelech-Pulock
Toews-Mayfield
Leddy-Boychuk

Varlamov (Greiss)

After giving up two first period goals in game four, the Capitals found their stride and played their best hockey of the postseason.

The Caps are projected to keep the same lineup they had for Tuesday’s nights game in for tonight’s matchup. The Capitals played extremely well and dominated the Islanders for segments of the game.

Nicklas Backstrom is questionable for today’s game five and will be a game-time decision.

Braden Holtby will again be in net for the Caps. He stopped 24 of 26 shots faced in game four.

The Capitals are projected to lineup like this:

Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Eller-Oshie
Hagelin-Pinho-Kovalchuk
Panik-Dowd-Hathaway

Carlson-Dillon
Jensen-Orlov
Siegenthaler-Gudas

Holtby (Vanecek)

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Where to Catch the Game

TV: MSG, MSG+, NBCSN, CBC, SN, TVAS, NBCSWA
Radio: 88.7FM 103.9FM 98.7FM SiriusXM91

*All Stats Provided by the NHL*