Isles-Caps Preview: Forwards

The New York Islanders and Washington Capitals will go head-to-head in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs beginning Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET.

The Isles enter the playoffs as the sixth seed, after they defeated the Florida Panthers 3-1-0 in their best-of-five Stanley Cup Qualifiers series. Washington finished third in the Eastern Conference Round Robin series with a record of 1-1-1 to lock up the third seed.
Ahead of Game 1, NewYorkIslanders.com is breaking down the forwards, defensemen and goalies and keys to the series. Learn more about the offense driving each team in this matchup:

New York Islanders:

The Isles outscored the Panthers 13-7 throughout their series and received 12 of their 13 goals from forwards. Anthony Beauvillier and Jean-Gabriel Pageau led the Isles with three goals apiece. Brock Nelson and Jordan Eberle both found the back of the net twice in the series, while Mathew Barzal, Matt Martin and defenseman Ryan Pulock also scored.

Beauvillier-Nelson-Bailey

The Beauvillier, Nelson and Josh Bailey line accumulated the most points as a line in the series for the Islanders vs. the Panthers and was applauded by Head Coach Barry Trotz following the series.
The line combined for 12 points (5G, 7A) and recorded at least one point in each game of the series. The line also stayed intact on the power play, and registered half of their combined points (2G, 4A) on the man advantage. The trio also led the Isles forwards in power play time on ice; Nelson (13:32), Bailey (13:06) and Beauvillier (13:04).
Beauvillier, who currently leads the Isles in scoring, is riding a four-game point streak with five points (3G, 2A) over that span. The 23-year-old winger scored two game-winning goals and one power-play goal during the series. Beauvillier led the Isles in shots on goal with 16 throughout the four games against Florida. Beauvillier also led the Isles with six points (2G, 4A) in four games vs the Capitals this season.

Nelson finished the series with three points. The veteran center scored once on the power play and once at even-strength and added an assist. Nelson also took a team-high 58 draws.
Bailey recorded team-highs of four assists and three power-play points - both tied with Devon Toews - throughout the series. Each of his assists involved at least one of his linemates to factor into the scoring.

Lee-Barzal-Eberle

The Isles line of Anders Lee, Barzal and Eberle combined for six points (3G, 3A) and finished with a combined rating of plus-10. The trio logged the most time on ice at even strength among the forward group; Barzal (65:39), Lee (59:44) and Eberle (59:04) throughout the series. The line was not on for a goal against during the Panthers series.
"I really liked the way our played the last game and in Game 2," Barzal said. "We got pucks deep. We made smart plays. We got in trouble when I was trying to do too much throughout the neutral zone. I sometimes forget throughout the playoffs that other teams are watching a lot of video and finding tendencies in our game too. Once we just kept it simple and played to each other's strengths, I trusted them a little more. Giving Lee pucks down low and making him work, that really opened our line up."
Eberle led the line in scoring with his two goals and one assist. The winger scored both goals in the Isles 4-2 win in Game 2, with one on the power play.

Barzal recorded two of his three points in the final game of the series as the Isles won 5-1. The 23-year-old center scored on a breakaway and assisted on Beauvillier's eventual game-winning goal. Barzal posted the highest plus rating among the Isles at plus-four and felt like he played his best game of the series in the Game 4 series clincher. Of the Islanders forwards, Barzal also logged the most minutes with an average time of 19:02.
Lee has not recorded a point in the postseason yet, but the Isles captain earned a positive plus-three rating and took 10 shots on goal. Lee led the entire Isles roster in hits with 15 and that size/physicality should come in handy vs a large and aggressive Capitals team.

Brassard-Pageau-Komarov/Kuhnhackl

Throughout the first three games of the Panthers series, the Islanders used Derick Brassard, Pageau and Tom Kuhnhackl on a line. During Game 4, Leo Komarov, who was hurt for most of training camp, joined the lineup in place of Kuhnhackl in an effort to bolster the penalty kill.
Collectively, the line, including all four skaters, combined for seven points (3G, 4A) and was plus-six.
Pageau tied Beauvillier atop the Isles leaderboard with three goals. The Isles newest addition, who was acquired from Ottawa at the NHL's Trade Deadline on Feb. 24, scored a goal in every game except Game 2. The two-way center was a key factor for the Isles special teams, as Pageau logged the most time shorthanded among forwards with a total of 8:19 and played 7:38 on the power play.

Behind Nelson, Pageau took the second-most faceoff draws at 51. The 27-year-old right-shot was key in taking defensive zone draws as he led the Isles with 23 in the d-zone and 10 shorthanded faceoffs overall.
Brassard finished the series with two assists, one of which was recorded on the power play. The center-turned-winger logged a total of 52:00 TOI and the most PP TOI outside of Beauvillier, Nelson and Bailey with a total of 11:43.
The veteran led the Isles in takeaways with his four throughout the series.
In the three games that Kuhnhackl suited up for, the winger posted one assist on a clever drop pass to Matt Martin. While Kuhnhackl didn't get credit for an assist, he also was the catalyst to Pageau's first goal of the series in Game 1, as his forecheck created the play that led to Pageau's goal.
After sustaining an injury during a fluke incident in Phase 2 training, Komarov joined the Isles lineup in Game 4. In the waning minutes of Game 4, where the Isles already had a 4-1 lead in hand, the gritty winger stole the puck behind the net from a Panthers defenseman and played Pageau for an empty-net goal.
Komarov played 13:15 in his first game of the postseason, including 2:33 played on the penalty kill, had three shots, threw five hits, and blocked two shots.

Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck

The Islanders Identity Line of Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck was reunited for the first time since Feb. 11. While the trio didn't combine for any points, they played true to their relentless, high-intensity style of play.
Martin posted the only point of his linemates as he scored in Game 2. The winger finished the series with 10 hits, two blocks, six shots on goal and 38:03 TOI.
Cizikas, who played in his first game since Feb. 11, recorded 52:21 TOI, including 6:33 on the penalty kill and took 45 faceoff draws, though his usually-high faceoff win percentage dipped to 35.6%. Cizikas also had four hits, two blocks and three takeaways.
Clutterbuck played 50:09 throughout the series and logged the second-most minutes on the penalty kill among forwards behind Pageau with his 6:40. The winger took three shots on goal, threw nine hits, blocked six shots and had one takeaway.

Ross Johnston

Ross Johnston suited up for the Isles in their 2-1 exhibition win against the New York Rangers on July 29. The winger skated alongside Pageau and Brassard, posted one assist and logged 9:26 and laid out a team-high of seven hits.
While Johnston has yet to return to the lineup since the exhibition game and has been a healthy scratch, he played in three of the Isles' four games against the Capitals in the regular season. Going up against a physical and well-framed team like the Capitals, there's a chance he joins the lineup to give the Isles a little more oomph.
You look at constructing your roster for your opponent," Trotz said. "Ross has made such great strides as a player the last two years really. He's in the mix for sure especially against a big team like Washington. We've got lots of size, they have lots of size. So, it should be a hell of a series."

Washington Capitals:

During their Round Robin play, the Caps offense was outscored 7-5 as they placed third in the Eastern Conference after losing to Philadelphia and to Tampa (shootout loss) and beating Boston.
"It's two good teams that have some similar traits," Trotz said of facing his former team. "There's the star power of Washington and the pedigree - obviously, a good chunk of that team has won the Stanley Cup so they've gone the distance. I think both teams are ready for the challenge and both teams respect both the strengths and weaknesses of each."
The Caps had five different players find the back of the net during their three games; T.J. Oshie, Richard Panik, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Tom Wilson and Travis Boyd - all of which are forwards.

Alexander Ovechkin

While Washington's captain didn't record a point three the three Round Robin games, Ovechkin is undoubtedly a player to keep an eye on.
The winger posted a team-high of 10 shots on goal and laid 12 hits through the three games and logged the highest power play time on ice at 14:53 among the Caps.
Known as a prolific goal scorer, Ovechkin surpassed the 700-goal milestone during the regular season where he tied Boston's David Pastrnak for the most goals scored with 48 and compiled 67 points through 68 games. Thirteen of the left winger's 48 goals were scored on the power play.
During the regular season against the Isles, Ovechkin scored three goals, all of which were scored in one game for his 27th-career hat trick.
Ovechkin plays alongside Kuznetsov, who tied for fourth on the Caps with 52 points and Wilson, who scored 21 goals during the regular season.

T.J. Oshie

Oshie, who received the nod for his first NHL All-Star Game this past January, is the Capitals number two triggerman behind Ovechkin.
Behind Ovechkin, Oshie generated the second-most shots on goal with nine in round-robin play, posted the most takeaways among the team with four, blocked three shots and had five hits. Through three games, the right-winger logged 54:04 time on ice, including 9:23 on the power play and 1:33 on the penalty kill.
In the regular season, Oshie scored the second-most goals (26) and power-play goals (10) both behind Ovechkin, Oshie registered a total of 49 points in 69 games.
The winger put his team on the board in their eventual 2-1 victory over Boston on Sunday and also scored in the shootout of the Caps' loss to Tampa.
Twice during the regular season, Oshie found the back of the net against the Isles.
Oshie plays alongside Jakub Vrana and Nicklas Backstrom.

Nicklas Backstrom

While Ovechkin is known as the Caps lethal scoring threat, Nicklas Backstrom is right in the mix with his exquisite vision and creativity to set up his teammates for Grade A opportunities.
The veteran Swede finished the season ranked third in scoring 54 points (12G, 42A) through 61 games and is a component of the Caps' high-octane power play.
"The Washington power play; the've got so many weapons," Trotz said. "You've got maybe the greatest goal scorer of all-time [Ovechkin], you've got one of the best bumper guys in the middle in Oshie, you've got one of the best setup guys in Backstrom, you've got a Norris Trophy-caliber defenseman on the back end and one of these very creative, elite playmaking guys in Kuznetsov. So you pick your poison. Hopefully, we're choosing which one at different times is the most dangerous to try and nullify."
In the Round Robin, Backstrom posted one assist, logged 58:27 time on ice, including 10:33 on the power play and 3:43 on the PK.

Jakub Vrana

Vrana went pointless through the Caps three Round Robin games, but put up six shots on goal, had three hits, two takeaways and totaled 42:54 time on ice, including 5:49 on the power play. The left winger skates alongside Backstrom and Oshie.
During the regular season, Vrana set career-highs across the board during the regular season with his 25 goals, 27 assists and 52 points in 69 games. The 24-year-old winger tied John Carlson for the most game-winning goals during the season with six.

Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson adds some brute force to their lineup with his reputation as an agitator in the league, while also evolving as a dynamic right winger. Wilson skates alongside Ovechkin and Kuznetsov.
This past year, Wilson was on pace to set career-highs across the board. With the premature ending to the season, Wilson reached career' bests in points (44) and assists (23) in 68 games.
During the Round Robin games, Wilson scored the game-winning goal against Boston, recorded a team-high 14 hits, blocked five shots and logged 52:02 time on ice, including 5:36 on the power play.