Braden Holtby sick, Capitals' Philipp Grubauer the starter in Game 2

The Washington Capitals will start third-string netminder Philipp Grubauer in Game 2 versus the New York Islanders on Friday. 

Braden Holtby - who suffered the loss in Game 1 - is out with an illness and will not dress.

Barry Trotz's decision leaves Justin Peters on the bench. The backup struggled all season, finishing with a woeful 3.25 goals-against average and .881 save percentage in 12 games.

Grubauer has never appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs, but has stopped pucks at a .924 rate in parts of three seasons with Washington. He beat Anaheim in a shootout in his only appearance this season.

The more game-ready starter, Grubauer went 27-17-5 with a .921 save percentage in 49 games with Hershey of the American Hockey League.