Game #4 Recap: Caps 2 Islanders 1

In a sloppy game that just muddled along, the Caps figured out a way to bring home the victory. The game started with some fireworks as DJ King, in his Capitals debut, got into a fight about 10 seconds into his first shift. Nicklas Backstrom got on the score sheet for the first time this season. He picked up and assist on the Capitals first goal and scored the game winner by getting hit with an Alex Ovechkin power play point blast. The puck hit Backstrom in the skate and deflected past the Islanders net minder with three minutes left in the third period. The Caps, once again, had trouble off the start and allowed the Islanders to take the lead after getting squirrelly  in their own zone. It was hard to tell if the Capitals were having a bad night or were the Islanders really doing a good job disrupting the Capitals play. I think a combination of both was at work. The Caps again seemed a bit off as the passing wasn't on the tape and they had a difficult time getting into the offensive zone.

The bright spot again for the Capital was the play of their young goal tender. Michael Nuevirth made his fourth consecutive start and stopped 23 of 24 shots on the night. This included several breakaway chances for the Isles. He has bailed the team out time and again already this season with his steady play in net. The Caps have obviously been working on their penalty kill this year. The team has not allowed a power play goal against in 15 tries this season. On the other side the Caps broke through on the power play for only the second time this season but it came at a good time. Game winner and all. Alex Ovechkin continued to pile up points scoring the Capitals first goal and getting an assist for using Backstrom as a pinball bumper. The bad news of the game might be the condition of Mike Green. Green left the game late in the third after hitting an Islander behind the goal line. He left the game with an apparent shoulder injury. Green was playing lights out defense this year and the Caps can ill afford to lose him right now. The Capitals head to Nashville for a Saturday game with the Predators.

Of Note:

• Alex Ovechkin played in his 400th career game. His 7 points and 4 goals are tops in the NHL. In the Capitals three wins this season Ovechkin has two game-winning goals and assisted on the third.
• The 2004 draft for the Capitals was very good to say the least. Six members of that draft class have played games for the Caps totaling 1,003 games so far. 
• The team was terrible in the face-off dot last night, winning just 41% of the draws. Nicklas Backstrom was the only standout winning 12 of 20.
• John Erskine led the shot blockers with 5 of the teams 22 blocks last night.
• Interesting fact - the Capitals lead the league with 50 blocked shots.
• With his two point effort Backstrom was the game's #1 Star. Michael Nuevirth picked up the #2 Star.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary