Goal Cap

I'm back again after another few days in the hospital. A post-operative infection caused me to squirm in agony, but I feel a lot better now. Joey MacDonald is starting in goal for the Islanders. Mark Streit is day to day with a groin strain. Joe Callahan has been recalled from Bridgeport as an emergency fill in. The cablevision feed is very crisp tonight for a change. At 13:52, Sergei Fedorov takes a holding penalty which leads to a Kyle Okposo powerplay goal at 14:04. Okposo was assisted by Frans Nielsen. That is all the scoring of the first period.

At 0:37 of the second period, Frans scores to make it 2-0 Islanders. Assists for Jeff Tambellini and Radek Martinek. At 1:40, Joel Rechlicz and John Erskine each get five minutes for fighting. After a big hit to the head on Andy Hilbert by Washington defensemen Mike Green (who left his feet) a scrum ensues and Tim Jackman and Jeff Schultz each get five for fighting at 3:16. Green gets two minutes for elbowing which leads to an Islanders powerplay. The Isles do not cash in. At 5:37, Alexander Ovechkin scores his 54th goal of the season to cut the Islanders lead to one goal. At 9:54, after a flubbed clearing attempt by Joe Callahan, Keith Aucoin ties the game for Washington on a wrist shot through JMac's five hole. Yann Danis would have not have let that kind of juicy rebound get back to Aucoin. That's all of the scoring of the second period.

A beautiful backhand goal by Richard Park at 2:12, retakes the lead for the Isles, 3-2. Josh Bailey gets the lone assist. Mike Green scores a powerplay goal at 10:55 after a bad double minor penalties were taken by the Wrecker and Blake Comeau. Tie game. At 12:12, Mike Green scores another powerplay goal after an interference call on Tim Jackman. 4-3 Capitals lead. At 19:04 Nicklas Backstrom scores an empty net goal to seal the deal for Washington. 5-3 Capitals win.