Islanders going out strong with convincing win over Capitals

Just play it out.

That’s what coach Barry Trotz wants to see as the Islanders conclude their disappointing season — their first out of the playoffs since 2018 — with back-to-back games at UBS Arena.

“Just play the right way,” Trotz said. “Play with the effort and commitment that’s professional, which has Islander standards. Don’t cheat each other.”

The Islanders certainly didn’t cheat in Thursday night’s 5-1 win over the Capitals to conclude a home-and-home series following Tuesday’s 4-1 win in Washington. Semyon Varlamov made 26 saves but Axel Jonsson-Fjallby spoiled his shutout bid with 41.4 seconds left in regulation.

This season, which started with Stanley Cup aspirations after back-to-back trips to the NHL semifinals, ends on Friday night against the two-time Cup-champion Lightning.

“We’re certainly not going to give up,” said Josh Bailey, who had a goal and an assist in the Islanders’ three-goal third period. “You want to end things on the right note, regardless of the situation you’re in.”

Then comes an offseason in which president and general manager Lou Lamoriello will need to assess how to improve the returning core. He must also assess whether this season was an aberration resulting from COVID-19 outbreaks and scheduling headaches — either too few games in a stretch or way too many — or evidence the team is in a downturn.

The Islanders (37-34-10) do still have some personal milestones within reach, and some already reached.

Brock Nelson gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal at 10:48 of the first period, extending his career high to 37 goals with an outside chance of reaching 40.

Captain Anders Lee made it 2-0 on a four-on-three power play at 15:34 of the first period and now has 28 goals with a chance of reaching 30 for the third time in his career. It was his 212th career goal, placing him 10th on the Islanders’ all-time list.

Noah Dobson had assists on both of those power-play goals as he reached 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists). It’s the most points for an Islanders defenseman since Mark Streit had 56 in 2008-09 and the most for an Islanders defenseman 22-or-younger since Denis Potvin’s 54 in 1973-74.

Kyle Palmieri’s power-play goal to make it 4-0 at 6:23 of the third period was his 200th career goal. He already has seven disallowed goals this season, per the team’s count.

“A couple of our guys on the bench were yelling for a review,” Palmieri said, laughing. “But it’s nice to see the puck drop and the goal count.”

Goalie Ilya Sorokin, expected to start against the Lightning, needs a shutout to set the team record with eight.

Friday also figures to be the last as Islanders for defensemen Zdeno Chara, 45, and Andy Greene, 39, with both expected to retire.

Notes & quotes: Trotz praised Oliver Wahlstrom for going after Garnet Hathaway, earning slashing and roughing minors and a 10-minute misconduct at 8:25 of the third period. Hathaway boarded defenseman Sebastian Aho four minutes earlier. “He’s standing up for a teammate and that was a vicious hit,” Trotz said. “I know the league will look at it.” . . . Chara and Nelson returned after missing Tuesday’s win because of the stomach flu going through the Islanders’ room. That illness kept defenseman Ryan Pulock and Ross Johnston from playing on Thursday … Anthony Beauvillier returned after missing four games with an upper-body injury … Jean-Gabriel Pageau also scored for the Islanders …Defenseman Adam Pelech missed 10 minutes but returned after defenseman Robin Salo’s skate blade cut him above the left ankle 17 seconds into the second period … The Capitals played their second straight without Alex Ovechkin (upper body) … Capitals goalie Vitek Vanecek stopped 21 shots.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.