Barry Trotz needs a big game from his best players (we're looking at you, Alex Ovechkin) to even his Washington Capitals' Stanley Cup playoff series.
Trotz also needs quality work from goalie Braden Holtby in Friday's Game 2. Trouble is, Holtby is "under the weather," according to Chuck Gormley of CSN Washington.
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Uh-oh.
Having ceded home-ice advantage to the New York Islanders, Trotz and team are in danger of taking an oh-fer, losing both home games and heading to Nassau Coliseum needing a road sweep.
Here's where it really gets scary for Capitals fans: Philipp Grubauer, recalled from AHL Hershey, might start. Faceoff is 7 p.m. ET at Verizon Center.
Expect a game-time decision. Grubauer and Justin Peters took shots in the morning skate. Holtby was not present, but Trotz would not rule out his No. 1 goalie.
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"He's been under the weather since Game 1 and we just felt the best chance for us is to get him through warmup and go from there," Trotz told media members. "When you're not feeling well there's no sense hurting yourself any more.
"He's a battler. He did all of his movement today and we just felt a few extra shots in warmups will get him there."
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Meanwhile, the Islanders are determined to stay focused and follow the old playoff saw: One game at a time.
"It doesn't mean anything to win one game. We can't get too carried away," goalie Jaroslav Halak told Newsday.
The Isles plan no changes for Game 2, and why should they? Their only flaw in a 4-1 Game 1 victory came when Halak mishandled the puck and gave the Caps a gift goal.