WASHINGTON — Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak stood in front of his locker, the picture of disappointment. Hands on hips, he stared disconsolately at the ground, dripping sweat, his face showing the frustration his felt minutes after his team’s season ended.
Halak routinely torments the Washington Capitals in elimination games. Halak had won all four times, three with the Montreal Canadiens five years ago and again Saturday in Game 6, and he turned in another strong effort Monday in Game 7. He finished with 24 saves but could not stop Evgeny Kuznetsov at 12 minutes 42 seconds of the third period as the Capitals eliminated the Islanders, 2-1, at Verizon Center.