Islanders vs. Capitals, NHL playoffs 2015: Washington moves on with Game 7 win

“They’re the games you want to play in,” Capitals defenseman Mike Green said of Monday’s matchup. “Just go after it. You can’t be scared of the challenge, and we just have to have the right mind frame, and I think it starts with that.

“If you can’t get up for Game 7 you’re not human or an athlete.”

1. John Tavares took his own criticism to heart

The Islanders captain spent most of his media time after Game 5 talking about how he needed to play better. He certainly meant it; it was Tavares’ play in Game 6 that saved the Islanders’ season. Tavares scored in the first period and assisted on the game-winning goal while leading all New York forwards in ice time. He also took a heavy one for the team on the game-winning goal.

The spectacle made for a great segue into the first Game 7 of this postseason, as well as a terrific potential end to Nassau Coliseum. If the Islanders lose on Monday night in Washington, they will be eliminated and Game 6 will be the final game ever played at Nassau.

So they might as well send it off with fisticuffs and salutes.

The Capitals lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2.

After three straight games decided by one goal, the Capitals scored the final five goals on Thursday night to cruise, 5-1 in Game 5, their second straight win.

Trotz will likely shake up his roster a bit by dressing 20-year-old Andre Burakovsky. The rookie forward could add some much-needed scoring punch for a Washington team trying to rebound from a one-goal effort. USA will provide national television coverage with a live stream also available from NBC Live Extra. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Game 4 coverage

That’s probably not the worst thing Ovechkin has heard in his career. But chirping the NHL’s best goal scorer after you beat him is a power move, Mr. Clutterbuck.

1. Braden Holtby made an impact.

The first 10 minutes of Game 2 were spent almost entirely around the Washington netminder’s crease. It seemed inevitable that the Isles would score, but Holtby turned everything aside with ease. If he hadn’t, the game wouldn’t have been close enough for the Capitals to tie things late.

The crowd at Nassau Coliseum is expected to be electric, as the arena is hosting its final Islanders playoff series before the Isles move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn next season.

New York led for most of the first half of the game despite not dominating affairs at all. The Isles broke the scoring open with a 2-on-1 breakaway goal by Cal Clutterbuck. Ryan Strome added another to pad the lead as the second period began, and it looked like the Islanders would run away with the game.

The series now shifts to Long Island with the series tied 1-1.

The Islanders defeated the Capitals in Game 1 of the Atlantic Division Semifinals, 4-1, doing so thanks in large part to a strong second period and an underwhelming performance from Washington’s netminder.

This marks the first time New York has won a series opener since 2003.