With a few days left before the playoffs, the Capitals are in the midst of one of their worst two-game stretches of the year. 

In a 5-1 loss to the Islanders, the Capitals played their second-straight clunker against the Islanders. Axel Jonsson-Fjallby scored Washington's lone goal. 

The Capitals are 44-25-12 with one game left in the season. Here are a few takeaways from the night on Long Island:

Poor first period

The Capitals were hopeful they could turn around from Tuesday’s poor performance early. They didn’t get what they wanted. 

The Islanders opened the scoring with two goals early, the first of which came from Brock Nelson on the power play. Almost five minutes later, Anders Lee added a power play tally to make the game 2-0. 

There wasn’t much action in the second period, but the third period was an unmitigated disaster. 

Vanecek in net

The Capitals' search for someone to seize the No. 1 job in net continues. Vitek Vanecek got the start Thursday after Ilya Samsonov earned the start Tuesday against the Islanders, but neither goalie performed well. 

In the loss, Vanecek stopped 21 of 26 Islander shots on the night. Three goals were scored on the power play. 

The Capitals will likely start Samsonov in the season finale against the Rangers, but the answer for No. 1 in net hasn't shown itself yet.

No Ovechkin

The Capitals were once again without captain Alex Ovechkin, who missed the team’s second-straight game with an upper-body injury. 

Ovechkin was injured Sunday against the Maple Leafs when he was tripped down and sent hard into the corner boards. After he collided, he was seen grabbing his left side and working his arm and shoulder out on the way to the bench. 

Absent the team’s leading goal-scorer, the Capitals clearly lacked in the scoring department. In two games against the Islanders, they scored just two goals. It’s unclear if he will be available for Friday’s season finale against the Rangers, but coach Peter Laviolette said he’s hopeful that Ovechkin will be ready for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Up next

The Capitals will end their season against the Rangers on Friday night at Madison Square Garden in a potential playoff preview. 

For that to happen, the Capitals will need to beat the Rangers in any fashion and the Penguins will need to lose in regulation to the Blue Jackets. Both games are scheduled for 7 p.m.