In an alternate universe, Washington’s Jakub Vrana scores on his breakaway – or buries the rebound – in overtime of Game 3 and the complexion of this series completely changes. Here on Earth-616 however, Vrana was stymied by New York goalie Semyon Varlamov and the Islanders ended up getting the winner on a swooping Matt Barzal move soon thereafter, giving the Isles a 3-0 stranglehold on the series.
Mathematically, the Capitals can still win this best-of-seven. Spiritually however, they may be cooked.
The New York Islanders are playing their patented brand of structured, defensive hockey and it is proving too effective for the more offensively-inclined Capitals.