The New York Islanders broke a second-period tie with a pair of goals and stole home-ice advantage from the Washington Capitals with a 4-1 victory in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
Star Performer: Islanders forward Brock Nelson opened and closed the scoring, beating Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby with a soft wrist shot in the first period, before adding an empty-netter to ice the win.
Turning Point: Ryan Strome broke a 1-1 tie in the second stanza by going top shelf on Holtby. He became the second player in franchise history to score a game-winning goal in his playoff debut, joining Clark Gillies, who did it in 1975.
Goalie Comparison: Halak stood his ground, allowing only Marcus Johansson's goal late in the first period, while Holtby had a tougher night.
| Goalie | Shots | GA | Saves | SV% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holtby | 26 | 3 | 23 | .885 |
| Halak | 25 | 1 | 24 | .960 |
Top Highlight: Here's a look at Strome's eventual game-winner, which stood as the most memorable play of the night:
(Courtesy: NHL.com)
Stat of the Night: The Islanders earned a Game 1 victory for the first time since they defeated the Ottawa Senators in the opening contest of the 2003 Eastern Conference quarterfinal.
Series at a Glance:
Game 1: Islanders 4, Capitals 1
Game 2: Friday, April 17, 7:00 p.m. ET
Game 3: Sunday, April 19, 12:00 p.m. ET
Game 4: Tuesday, April 21, 7:30 p.m. ET
Game 5*: Thursday, April 23, TBA
Game 6*: Saturday, April 25, TBA
Game 7*: Monday, April 27, TBA
*If necessary
