Capitals 2, Islanders 1 OT/SO (1-0)
Scoresheet – Wash Post
Olaf Kolzig wasn’t very happy about his performance against the Penguins, and he certainly played one of his worst games in memory against the Panthers a game before that. But Kolzig made good on this one stopping 31 shots and stopping three very big ones in the shoot-out.
Matt Pettinger scored the lone goal for the Caps to give them an early first period lead, Alex Semin scored the only shoot-out goal and the Caps start their home stand on a good note. The Capitals power play is still struggling going 0 for four, but the penalty kill was perfect killing all of the Islanders 5 power plays. Alex Ovechkin was shut out for the second straight game.
The Caps didn’t change their game much from the Pens game, and it turned out to be a better effort today. The Caps jump the Panthers after briefly standing in last place in the Southeastern division. If they hope to make the playoffs, the Caps have to make the Verizon Center a very uncomfortable place for visiting teams, right now that isn’t the case (13-11-3).
It was scarey to watch the Caps face another shootout, but Semin pacified that fear with an early goal against Rick DiPietro. That is all Kolzig needed as the Islanders just couldn’t slip one past Godzilla. Richard Zednik is playing well too, keeping his feet moving and creating chances with his speed. A job worthy of the game’s second star.
The Caps deal with the Bruins next. A team that features a wicked tall defensemen that the Caps were in the bidding for. Hopefully, secondary scoring and some lucky bounces will put some life back into the Capitals step.
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