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The New York Islanders weren’t able to finish off the Washington Capitals yesterday, losing 3-2 in Game 4.
I said this after Game 3 as well, but the Islanders need to be able to convert on power play chances. For the second game in a row, they went 0-for-5 and it may have changed the game if they were able to convert. They were getting good chances but at a certain point, if you’re not scoring, it doesn’t matter how good those chances are.
This was the first game of the series where Semyon Varlamov was actually tested quite a bit and I think, for the most part, he played pretty well. On the first goal, Adam Pelech got uncharacteristically beat easily down the wing by Evgeny Kuznetsov and then on the second goal, Scott Mayfield tried to block the shot but just ended up screening Varlamov. I’ve said this before, but players need to either get in the way of the shot or get out of the way altogether, because that’s one that Varlamov could’ve had if he saw it. On the third goal, Pelech got caught once again and if Alex Ovechkin is given that much time and space, it’s probably not going to go well. Varlamov shouldn't take blame for the loss.
I’m still confident in the Islanders taking this series, but it does hurt to give up a lead like that. The Islanders weren’t able to contain Washington’s offense like they did in the first three games and that was the major reason that they couldn’t end the series.
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Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted in a future article):
Game 1 Preview: Islanders vs. Panthers Notes from Game 1 vs. Panthers Reviewing last week's polls (August 3): Islanders Edition Game 2 Preview: Islanders vs. Panthers Notes from Game 2 vs. Panthers Game 3 Preview: Islanders vs. Panthers Notes from Game 3 vs. Panthers Game 4 Preview: Islanders vs. Panthers Islanders advance: Notes from Game 4 vs. Panthers Islanders will face Capitals in first round Reviewing last week's polls (August 10): Islanders Edition Previewing New York's series against the Capitals Notes from Game 1: Islanders vs. Capitals Game 2 Preview: Islanders vs. Capitals Notes from Game 2: Islanders vs. Capitals Game 3 Preview: Islanders vs. Capitals Notes from Game 3: Islanders vs. Capitals Game 4 Preview: Islanders vs. Capitals