Just two days after suffering their first loss of the second half of the season, the Washington Capitals came into tonight’s game with one thing on their mind, winning. It was Military Appreciation Night at the Verizon Center and the Capitals wore camouflage warm-up jerseys, and honored military members all over the world.
The New York Islanders got off to a quick start, as Mikhail Grabovski scored the first goal just two minutes into the game. The Islanders skated hard after scoring the first goal, and at the midway point of the first period, had six of the first eight shots in the game. Midway through the first period the Washington Capitals caught the Islanders on an odd man rush down the ice. Nicklas Backstorm skated into the Capitals offensive zone with Alex Ovechkin directly next to him. Instead of crossing to Ovechkin, Backstrom would find TJ Oshie who put the puck in the back of the net to tie the game.
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The first power-play of the game would go the Capitals way as Islanders defender Thomas Hickey was whistled for an elbow. The Islanders penalty-kill would get the best of the Capitals power-play. After the Islanders broke up three Capitals passes, the hometown team wasn’t able to convert. Both teams would have some scoring chances, but both sides ran into brick walls. When the first period came to an end, the game was tied at one goal each.
With the second period underway, both teams were searching for a way to break the tie. While both teams battled hard for the first five minutes, the score remained tied. The Capitals came into the second period playing a little more physical. Laying out hard checks left and right, the Capitals slowly began taking on the physical aspect of the game that they have had success with all season long. Michael Latta blocked a shot that led to a breakaway, where he was denied.
The Washington Capitals would head to the power-play for a hooking call on Ryan Strome at 16:42. The Capitals power-play was on the ice for about one minute and 25 seconds when Capitals captain Alexander Ovechkin committed a slash. Both teams would play four-on-four hockey for forty-five seconds. The Capitals would be on the positive end of a four-on-four rush, where the Caps would break the tie. Jason Chimera took a shot, which beat Jaroslav Halak but the puck hovered on the edge of the goal-line where Andre Burakovsky would just tap it in for a 2-1 lead with just under two minutes left in the second period. Braden Holtby made some important saves at the end of the period preserving the Capitals’ 2-1 lead after two periods.
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The third period began with both teams tied in shot attempts. With the score still in the Capitals favor, the Islanders scrambled to tie the game up, and they would do just that. About 5:30 into the final frame, Josh Bailey would score his eighth goal of the season, which would lock the game up at two goals apiece. In a game that had a playoff feel to it, the Capitals and Islanders skated up and down the ice, to win the game for their respective teams.
The Capitals would find themselves on another odd man rush, and with Oshie by Ovechkin’s side being defended by only one Islanders player, Ovechkin shot the puck for it to be saved by Halak. With less than three minutes to go in the third period, the Capitals were able to cycle the puck in their offensive zone. Washington Capitals forward Nicklas Backstrom found Alexander Ovechkin right in the middle of the slot, and Ovechkin would shoot the puck to beat Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak, to give the Caps a 3-2 lead with minutes remaining.
Following the goal, the referees would whistle down Capitals defender John Carlson for a delay of game penalty with 2:20 left in the game. With a minute left in the game, the Islanders pulled Jaroslav Halak for an extra skater. Braden Holtby made some terrific saves against the Islanders power-play. Holtby, who was on his game all night, came in clutch for the Capitals down the stretch, and would secure the Capitals a 3-2 victory over the Metropolitan division rival New York Islanders.
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Getting into the win column after the All-Star Break was vital for this Washington Capitals team. Even with a shaky start to the game, the team found a way to come out with two points. The Capitals next game is
Saturdayas they travel to New Jersey to face the Devils.