Every night during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Eye On Hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters will bring you up to speed everything you need to know about all of the action around the NHL. Here's what you need to know about Capitals vs. Islanders, Game 7.

Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders, Game 7

Capitals 2, Islanders 1 | Capitals win series 4-3

Game 7 in a nutshell: If you had no rooting interest in that game, it was magnificent. If you did have a rooting interest, you're probably on the floor right now. The Capitals were 2-1 winners on Monday night to advance to the second round of the playoffs and help erase some bad memories of Game 7s past, especially when it comes to potential elimination games against Jaroslav Halak. Joel Ward scored another big goal in a Game 7 for the Capitals and Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the winner midway through the third period. 

Turning point: It has to be the game winning goal Kuznetsov. Not only because it was the winning goal, but because it came just after the Islanders tied the game on a Frans Nielsen goal that Capitals goalie Braden Holtby probably should have stopped. That was one of those moments where a team's season can go in either direction, and fortunately for the Capitals Kuznetsov was able to come through at a huge moment for what is by far the biggest goal of his career to this point. 

The Washington Capitals are moving on to the second round. (USATSI)
The Washington Capital are moving on to the second round. (USATSI)

Three things we learned

1. The Capitals put on a defensive clinic in this game, limiting one of the best offensive teams in the league to just a single goal and only 11 shots on goal in a Game 7. Eight of those shots came from defensemen. Not one of them came from John Tavares. You can not ask for anything more from your team defensively in a Game 7. 

2. Jack Capuano is one of the most aggressive coaches in the NHL when it comes to pulling his goalie in late game situations when he is trying to tie the game. But for some reason with his saeson on the line, and his team on the power play (the only power play of the night), he chose this game to get conservative and did not pull Jaroslav Halak until there was only one minute remaining in the game. That is an odd time to change your strategy.

3. It's official: No more NHL hockey at the Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders' Game 6 win turns out to be the final game in the only home the Islanders have ever known. Starting next season they will play their home games at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, the Washington Capitals move on to face the New York Rangers in the second round. 

Video of the game: Evgeny Kuznetsov, your Game 7 game winning goal.