Skill, Speed and Sandpaper

There was a stretch in the final five minutes of Game 2 against the Washington Capitals where the Islanders, cradling a one-goal lead (3-2), enforced a forecheck clinic.

Fragment-by-fragment, they chipped away at the wearisome Caps and extended their lead with two goals created from a smothering forecheck. At its peak, the Isles pinned the Caps in their own end for a minute-and-a-half and the grinding effort was rewarded with an insurance marker to make it 4-2 and ultimately a 5-2 victory.

And while there were many forecheckers who finished off the Caps in Game 2, the work of Leo Komarov and JG Pageau played a big role in Cal Clutterbuck's 4-2 tally. Komarov's pressure caused Dmitry Orlov to blindly throw the puck up the ice where it was intercepted by Pageau who subsequently banked it off Clutterbuck and in.

That continued diligence, dogged forecheck and devotion has forced the Caps to the brink of elimination as the Isles extended their series lead to 3-0 with a 2-1 overtime win in Sunday's outing.

"We're just trying to play the way we want," Pageau said. "When we win the game they're getting frustrated. That's the way we want to play. They're going to come with a lot of desperation [in Game 4], so we're going to need a lot of urgency in our game. [We need] to get off to a good start. We can't control how they get frustrated, we just need to focus on what we can do."

The Islanders have benefitted from the versatility and energy of players like Pageau, who was a fixture in that final duration of Game 2. Pageau has predominantly played between Derick Brassard and Leo Komarov, and has been the equilibrium between the offensive panache of Brassard and the intrepid bite from Komarov.

"They do compliment each other in terms of style," Trotz said of the line. "They can chip in and they can defend. They've got an element of sandpaper, an element of speed and element of skill in there. They just seem to work. They're a veteran group; the three of them. They're very useful for me."

Komarov joined Pageau and Brassard in the final game of the Islanders 3-1 series win over the Florida Panthers on Aug. 7 after recovering from an undisclosed facial injury that the winger had sustained during Phase 2 training. In his first game back and alongside his new linemates, Komarov assisted on Pageau's empty-net goal that delivered the Isles their 5-1 victory.

It was a preview of what was to come. Despite being up 4-1 and on the verge of clinching the series, the line didn't let up. A persistent forecheck by Komarov forced a turnover behind Florida's net. Komarov connected with Pageau for the empty-net goal and the final dagger.

In the three games since, the trio has continued to mold their defining elements into one dynamic aggregate.

While Brassard has evolved his offensively-inclined game to fit more of a two-way style this season - Brassard dished out five hits in Game 2 - the 32-year-old veteran has still generated scoring chances. In Game 3, Brassard fired the second-most shots on goal with five and earned the secondary assist on Mathew Barzal's game-winner.

Komarov's the most physical of the three, as he's tied with Matt Martin for the team lead with 14 hits against the Capitals. Komarov's return has been welcomed on the penalty kill as the Isles have had to try and nullify the multi-faceted weapon of Washington's power play.

In the circle, Pageau has been the Isles faceoff ace. The right-shot has won 59.4% of draws and taken the most of his teammates at even-strength, shorthanded, in the offensive and defensive zones.

As a line, the trio has been utilized to disarm Washington's threats while still creating lethal opportunities in transition when opportune and has combined for a plus-four rating.

"We're all on the same page," Pageau said. "We try to keep things simple and win all of our battles. Brass and Leo are two really competitive players and really smart with and without the puck. It's fun to play with them."