Following a whirlwind of a first period, which started with four goals in the first seven minutes, the Caps survived to beat the Isles 5-4 in the shootout. These overtime/shootout games with the Islanders are really getting old.

Overall it seemed like the Caps controlled play for a vast majority of the game, even though the Islanders were scrappy and worked extremely hard. Outside of the first seven minutes and the last four, the Caps looked like the dominant team. More importantly, they looked like a very skilled team without the services of Alex Ovechkin for the fourth straight game. While Jose Theodore faltered, Semyon Varlamov came in and saved the day. Varly finished the night by saving 10 of 11 in the shootout, and continuing to win over Capitals Nation. Here are my thoughts on the rest of the game:

• Was anyone shocked when Alex Semin rifled the first shot of the game past Roloson, then had a ridiculous turnover that directly led to a breakaway and an Islanders goal? Crickets...
• In fairness, I'll get off Semin's back for the evening. He seemed to have a little more giddy-up from the start, and he created, and almost capitalized several times. Also threw in one in the shootout for the Ovi Hat Trick. He easily could have had more than his two goals, but we'll all take that for tonight. Good job Sasha.
• Tomas Fleischmann could probably use the force to get the puck into the right now he's so in tune with the puck. His aggressiveness paid off on his second period power play tally, and he continued his torrid pace to start the season. His -2? Not so much with the good.
• Captain Clark...another night, another point, and a game winner in round 11 of the shootout. Maybe I should be critical a little more often.
• Jose Theodore with a .400 save percentage with three goals on the first five shots. Maybe I'm starting to think that Varly was right. The D tightened up around him, and although he made some outstanding saves, the Caps seemed to have some extra pep once he came off the bench.
• Can we just stop giving Nick Backstrom defensive zone draws? One of his clean losses resulted in an immediate Islanders goal. He did win 63% on the night though...
  
• The penalty killing unit had a lot of tenacity when they had to take care of Brendan Morrison's hooking infraction at the beginning of the third. They were able to change lines cleanly and quickly, and Backstrom got a great chance as Morrison came out of the box.
• I am already running out of adjectives describing Mathieu Perreault, but the guy showed off some handles tonight. His 3rd period dangle on the Isles D that led to a great scoring chance stood out. He did a great job of pirouetting around defenders and maintaining possessions that wore out the visiting team.
• Two assists and two takeaways...welcome back Greenlife52!
• Outside of the dot (where he was 65% successful) Dave Steckel continued to struggle a bit, with only one shot on goal and an untimely third period penalty. It was even worse considering that the Islanders won their first draw of the man advantage and almost capitalized immediately. Stecks still only has two points on the season.
• Richard Park, I hate you little Korean man. Way to actually show the boarding call Comcast (also good job of showing the second goal). Late penalties, to steal the phrase from Joe B, were a "bug-a-boo." Whatever that means...

Kudos Go To:

Semyon Varlamov. 10 of 11 in overtime should do it alone, but 25 saves and a .962 save percentage ain't to shabby either. Solid night Varly.

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