A NO-Point Night: Washington Capitals -- Game 39: Islanders 1 - Capitals 0

The Washington Capitals made their second trip to Long Island in less than a week to face the New York Islanders at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.  They were hoping for a different result than what they suffered on April Fools’ Day, an 8-4 thrashing at the hands of the Isles.  New York was hoping to climb into a standings points tie with the Caps at the top of the East Division.  Both clubs entered the contest with two-game winning streaks.  It would be the Islanders extending their winning streak to three games, shutting out the Caps, 1-0.

First Period

New York had the first man advantage of the contest when Tom Wilson was whistled for tripping at the 6:02 mark.  The Islanders managed one shot on goal on their power play but failed to score.  The Caps got their first power play late in the period, Mathew Barzal going off for interference with 16.4 seconds left in the frame.  That Caps did not score but would carry 1:43 of the man advantage to the second period.  That would be it for the excitement, the teams retiring to their respective locker rooms in a scoreless tie.

-- New York outshot the Caps, 12-7, in the period an out-attempted them, 22-11.

-- Justin Schultz was the only Capital with two shots on goal in the first period.

-- Washington won just eight of 22 faceoffs in the period (36.4 percent); Lars Eller the only Capital taking more than one draw finishing the period over 50 percent (3-for-5/60.0 percent).

Second Period

The Caps could not convert the remainder of the power play that carried over from the first period, failing to get a shot on goal in the time available.  They were awarded another power play mid-way through the period when Anthony Beauvillier was hit with a penalty for closing his hand on the puck at the 9:29 mark.  Washington did not score on this power play, either, recording one shot on goal.  Neither team would rustle the net twine in the period, and after 40 minutes, still scoreless.

-- Washington outshot the Islanders, 12-7, in the period and out-attempted them, 26-12.

-- Justin Schultz, Zdeno Chara, and Tom Wilson each had three shots on goal through 40 minutes. 

-- John Carlson did not have a shot attempt but did have three hits.  Brenden Dillon led the team in hits with four.

Third Period

New York went to the power play 4:34 into the period when Carl Hagelin was sent off for slashing.  New York failed to convert, despite three shots on goal, and the teams played on, scoreless.

New York finally broke the ice when the Caps could not clear the puck out of their own end and a shot from the right point by Ryan Pulock was put back by Brock Nelson through goalie Vitek Vanecek’s legs at the 13:05 mark.  The Caps pulled Vanecek late but could not convert with the extra skater, and the Islanders skated off, 1-0 winners.

Other stuff…

-- This was the 11^th game this season in which the Caps allowed one or fewer goals.  They are now 10-1-0 in those games.

-- Vitek Vanecek allowed one goal on 39 shots, the most shots he faced in a road game and lost this season.

-- New York outshot the Caps, 39-29, and out-attempted them, 62-54.

-- Zdeno Chara, Tom Wilson, and Conor Sheary led the Caps with four shots apiece.

-- Alex Ovechkin led the Caps with seven shot attempts.

-- Ovechkin, Garnet Hathaway, and Brenden Dillion led the Caps with four credited hits apiece.

-- Despite being in an early hole on faceoff wins, the Caps went 28-for-57 for the game (49.1 percent).  Lars Eller was 8-for-12 (66.7 percent).

-- The Caps were credited with only three takeaways (Ellerr, T.J. Oshie, and Evgeny Kuznetsov).

-- Kuznetsov had four of his six shot attempts blocked.

-- Three of the Islanders’ missed shots were shots off posts.

In the end…

Tough loss.  Put it aside, get ready for Boston on Thursday.  No time to sulk.