Capitals Fall to Islanders in Shootout
posted 5:43 am Thu February 21, 2008 - WASHINGTON
Comrie's backhander was the last shot in the shootout, following misses by Washington's Viktor Kozlov, Alex Ovechkin and Alexander Semin and New York's Richard Park and Miroslav Satan. Satan and Josef Vasicek scored in regulation for the Islanders, who overcame a 2-0 deficit for the second straight game, having rallied from two down to beat San Jose 3-2 at home on Monday. New York's winning streak, its longest since December 2003, has come on the heels of a seven-game skid that dropped the team to the fringe of the playoff race.
Semin and Brooks Laich scored for the Capitals, who picked up a point to move into sole possession of second behind Carolina in the Southeast Division. Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 48 goals, was held without a goal for the third straight game, his longest goal-less streak of the season.Washington outshot New York 30-19, including 3-0 in the five-minute overtime, but the Islanders always seem to have the Capitals' number, having now won 11 of 14 meetings while holding Washington to two or fewer goals in the last nine. Goaltender Rick DiPietro again had a solid game behind an injury-depleted defense that was missing Andy Sutton, who tore a hamstring Monday against San Jose.
Washington's Olie Kolzig was just as good as DiPietro, although he needed to make only 17 saves to DiPietro's 28. Kolzig has allowed only 12 goals in his last six games.
The Capitals took an early lead when Matt Pettinger sent a long pass ahead to Semin, who outraced defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron on a breakaway and beat DiPietro.
Later in the first period, Laich made it 2-0 when he deflected Mike Green's blue-line slap shot on a power play. The puck struck the inside of the left post before settling into the net.
The Islanders pulled within one in the second period when Bill Guerin popped out of the penalty box had a breakaway on a pass from Satan. Kolzig made a fine save on Guerin, but the right wing got his own rebound and fed the trailing Satan for an easy goal.
Vasicek tied the game with 8:51 remaining in the third, collecting the puck in the right corner and scoring from a near-impossible angle with a shot that hit Kolzig and deflected into the net.
Three penalties were called in a two-minute span with the score tied at 2 late in the third - two on New York and one on Washington - but the Capitals couldn't take advantage, although Ovechkin came close when he hit the left post with just under four minutes remaining.
Semin had the best scoring chance in overtime, but he rushed a wraparound attempt and had his shot thwarted by DiPietro's stick.
Notes: New York D Bruno Gervais missed his fifth straight game with a strained oblique muscle. ... Washington D Tom Poti returned after missing two games with a lower body injury. D Jeff Schultz strained a ligament in his knee. He will be listed as day-to-day. ... Kolzig was generously awarded an assist on Laich's goal. ... The Capitals haven't allowed a power-play goal in six games.
By JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports Writer
Not a member yet? Click Here to sign up.
Please leave your comments below:
Messages that harass, abuse or threaten other members; have obscene or otherwise objectionable content; have spam, commercial or
advertising content or inappropriate links may be removed and may result in the loss of your posting privileges.
Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly.
Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.
© 2008 WJLA-TV
© 2008 The Associated Press
All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
The 'RUNNING MAN' icon is a registered trademark of America Online, Inc.
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.