Morning After: Shipwrecked on the Island

Dec 29, 2023; Elmont, New York, USA; Washington Capitals right wing Tom Wilson (43) skates with the puck defended by New York Islanders defenseman Noah Dobson (8) during the first period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY SportsA game that started out fairly even quickly got out of hand, as the Caps fell victim to some quick-strike goals by the Islanders – and not just once, but twice, for double the fun – and ultimately fell 5-1.

How much of that has to do with losing both Charlie Lindgren and Martin Fehervary in the first half of the opening frame is hard to pin down, but the Caps really never got much going after that and saw the Islanders’ 20th-ranked offense…