Backstrom Wins It In OT: Nicklas Backstrom is the overtime hero getting congrats from teammates after his goal at 11:09 of sudden death. The Caps won 2-1 over the Isles evening the series 2-2.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

It was all set up for the Islanders. Following a thrilling 2-1 Game 3 overtime triumph on captain John Tavares’ goal 15 seconds in, the Long Island hosts had a great chance to take a commanding 3-1 series lead over the Capitals in their barn. Instead, Nicklas Backstrom had other ideas scoring at 11:09 of OT to defeat the Islanders 2-1 at a packed Nassau Coliseum.

The exciting first round series is now dead even with a pivotal Game 5 Thursday back at Verizon Center in D.C. It was a disappointing conclusion to a well played game. The Islanders outplayed the Capitals for large portions but just couldn’t beat Braden Holtby more than once. The Caps’ starter was splendid making 36 saves to help his team finally beat the Isles in sudden death. Dating back to 1985, the Caps had lost five straight playoff games that went to OT against the Isles. Their last win came on April 11, 1985 at the Cap Centre.

Despite the teams combining for 67 shots and 144 attempts, for a second consecutive game only three goals were scored with sudden death needed again to decide the winner. Unlike Sunday’s riveting conclusion with Tavares beating Holtby from a tough angle 15 seconds in, it was Backstrom who got the better of Tavares to score his third career playoff OT winner. Taking advantage of Tavares without a broken stick, Backstrom got a tricky turnaround wrist shot through traffic past Jaroslav Halak at 11:09. Joel Ward was in front screening when Backstrom’s floater went far side inside the post sending Islander fans to the exits.

In what’s been a very physical series, the old Patrick Division rivals threw their weight around. The teams combined for 88 hits with the Islanders holding a 50-38 edge. That included some crunchers from Cal Clutterbuck, who had a game high nine to go with his assist on fourth line center Casey Cizikas’ goal that tied the game with 13 seconds left in the first period. It was also Clutterbuck’s misfortune in a tie game when on a breakaway, he hit the post with over 11 minutes left in regulation. Had he scored, we may very well be talking about the Islanders one win away from the second round. Instead, it’s a best of three series with the Isles needing to win one in Washington.

The only goals in regulation came during the first. It was the Caps who finally got a first goal in the series when Alex Ovechkin scored his second of the series on a great reverse redirection of a John Carlson point shot. Backstrom also drew a helper setting it up off a faceoff win. By far, he’s been the best Cap in the series with three goals and three assists.

It took until the final half a minute for the Islanders to draw even. In what’s become a theme, their fourth line got it done again. Nick Leddy sent Clutterbuck in on Holtby and he was able to fire from a tough angle with the rebound steered in by a driving Cizikas for his first of the series at 19:47. That line with bruiser Matt Martin (7 hits) has been tough on the Caps forechecking and finishing every check.

The trouble for the Islanders is they have not been able to score on the power play. They were 0-for-4 tonight and are now 0-for-10 in the series. That included a golden opportunity early in the second when Caps’ antagonist Tom Wilson took consecutive minor penalties including a charge on a big hit that injured Islander defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky. He left the game leaving the Isles’ down to five D. With Travis Hamonic already out, it could put them in a delicate situation if neither can return for Game 5.

Mike Green even gave them a third straight chance with a delay of game. But the Isles’ power play failures doomed them. Despite outshooting the Caps 15-6 and outchancing them, the score remained tied entering the third.

Not surprisingly, the third was more tightly played. The Caps got their only power play when rookie Anders Lee went off for holding. The Islanders penalty kill did a great job on Ovechkin never allowing him to get off a one-timer. They shadowed him effectively. However, he nearly set up a goal with a great pass in front. But it wasn’t finished allowing Halak to cover up.

There were some nervy moments for each side. The Isles had a couple of strong forechecks after weak turnovers from Caps’ defensemen Mike Green and Matt Niskanen. But they were unable to get the shot necessary to beat Holtby. Ryan Strome came close but Holtby got a piece. Strome was dangerous but missed the net on a couple of opportunities. Tavares was tightly guarded with Backstrom all over him to stifle one chance.

As color man Butch Goring noted to Howie Rose on the MSG Isles’ telecast, the refs let the teams play. Players have been allowed to get away with obstruction. It’s come back. They aren’t calling it. It makes for even tighter checking and makes it harder to score.

The first half of overtime was electric. The Isles and Caps played at a frenetic pace with hardly any stoppages until past the halfway point. Each went for it which basically told you that there wouldn’t be any need for double overtime.

Following a break to clean the ice, the Caps’ top line was able to finally apply pressure. On the forecheck, Ovechkin and Ward combined to feed Backstrom, who was closely checked by Tavares. Unfortunately, his stick broke forcing him to toss it. Without a twig, Tavares wasn’t able to get in the way of Backstrom’s seeing eye shot that ended the game.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Alex Ovechkin, WSH (goal-2nd of series, assist, 8 SOG, 15 attempts, +1 in 29 shifts-22:15)

2nd Star-Cal Clutterbuck, NYI (assist, 2 SOG, hit goalpost in 3rd, 9 hits, +1 in 25 shifts-16:38)

1st Star-Nicklas Backstrom, WSH (OT winner at 11:09-3rd of series, assist, 5 SOG, +2 in 32 shifts-25:19)

Notes: Washington coach Barry Trotz made two lineup changes. With Eric Fehr out with an “upper body” injury, he dressed Michael Latta. Curtis Glencross was scratched in favor of rookie Andre Burakovsky, who made his playoff debut. … Halak finished with 28 saves. … The Caps edged the Isles 33-32 in faceoffs with Jay Beagle going 13-and-7. Tavares was 10-and-8 for the Isles and Brock Nelson went 9-and-8.

Key Stats

Shot Attempts Caps 66 Isles 78

Blocked Shots Caps 21 (Carlson 6, Orpik 4) Isles 24 (Hickey 5, Nielsen 5)

Takeaways Caps 12 (Niskanen 3) Isles 20 (De Haan 5)

Giveaways Caps 13 (Ovechkin 3) Isles 22 (Halak 3, Hickey 3)