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Washington Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin registers one of his eight shots on goal during Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarter-final against the New York Islanders.Alex Brandon/The Associated Press

It's not impossible, of course, for an NHL team to erase a two-game series deficit.

Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals know that all too well: They allowed the New York Rangers to come back to win a first-round matchup in 2013 after Washington took Games 1 and 2.

Take it further back, to 1985, and the Capitals have managed to lose nine series in which they led 2-0 or 3-1.

This time around, facing the New York Islanders, Ovechkin and Co. are among three teams heading into Friday hoping to avoid falling behind 2-0 by losing twice at home. The others are Nashville (hosting Chicago) and Vancouver (hosting Calgary).

"I don't think anybody's too worried out here or freaking out," Capitals forward Michael Latta said Thursday after a brief optional skate.

Of Friday's four home teams, only Montreal is up 1-0, against Ottawa.

"The worst thing we could have done today was be sad," Washington forward Troy Brouwer said. "The guys in here are happy. We're in the playoffs. We're enjoying ourselves. But we have to be ready and try and change the momentum of the series."

"The good thing is, it's a seven-game series, so we can bounce back," centre Nicklas Backstrom said.

According to STATS, teams that take a 2-0 lead in best-of-seven NHL playoff series are 292-48 in those series, an .859 winning percentage.

"We want to try to take a two-nothing lead back home. … This is a huge game for us," said Ryan Strome, who scored the go-ahead goal in New York's 4-1 road victory Wednesday, his postseason debut.

Islanders captain John Tavares echoed coach Jack Capuano's message that they'll need to be wary of a better Capitals performance in Game 2.

"When you're able to steal two games in a row, it can set you up in a good position," Tavares said. "But that's all it does. It's hard to get four wins."

Nashville is in the same predicament as Washington.

"It's a really big game for both teams – but really for us," Predators goalie Pekka Rinne said.

Asked whether Game 2 is a must-win, Nashville captain Shea Weber avoided that term, instead calling it "the next step in our journey."

Washington coach Barry Trotz and his players outlined several areas in which they'll need improvement, including fore-checking, puck control in the neutral zone, power-play decision-making and traffic in front of the net. "We're going to make a few adjustments," defenceman Matt Niskanen said.

Ovechkin averages about a goal every two playoff games for his career, but he has only scored once over his past eight appearances. "When he's on the ice, everybody knows that he's out there," said Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak, credited with eight saves on Ovechkin in Game 1. Said Trotz about his captain: "At times, I thought he could do some things better."

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