The Islanders allowed six straight goals in their 6-3 loss to the Capitals on Thursday, as they head to Philadelphia after picking up no points in their two games in Washington.

Once again, Semyon Varlamov and Vitek Vanecek manned the creases for their respective teams. Varlamov had allowed only four goals in his first four games, but the puck squeezed by him five times on only 23 shots in this one. On the other hand, Vanecek continued his early amazing play, with three goals against on 30 shots.

It was a frustrating loss for the Islanders, who had the game in their hands at one point. The loss put the Islanders at 3-4-0, and seventh in the MassMutual East Division. The Capitals improved to 5-0-3, cementing themselves as the leaders of the division

There was going to be “a change or two” according to Barry Trotz. Ross Johnston was replaced by Oliver Wahlstrom, and Leo Komarov was on the second line with Brock Nelson and Josh Bailey. Unfortunately Trotz’s readjustments were still not enough as the Capitals were again victorious.

First Period

Both teams started the game slow offensively, combining for just four shots in the first eight minutes. Eventually, Oliver Wahlstrom broke the scoreless tie ten minutes in. He fanned on a shot that bounced off Capital’s Trevor van Riemsdyk and fluttered into the net. It was Wahlstrom’s first NHL goal in his tenth game.

18 seconds later, Cal Clutterbuck took a low shot that Casey Cizikas deflected in, and the took a quick 2-0 lead. With 2:28 left, Mat Barzal’s rebound went right to Anders Lee in the crease, and he scored to extend the lead on the power play. The period ended 3-0, with the Islanders leading 10-8 in shots.

Second Period

Like the first period, there was a slow start and no goals for almost half the period, until everything turned for the Capitals. 9:07 in, Conor Sheary finally got the Capitals on the board with an unassisted goal on their fourteenth shot.

Sheary got right back on the goal sheet his very next shit, deflecting in a Zdeno Chara shot. The Isles could not stop the bleeding, as Garnet Hathaway scored the tying goal on a shot that bounced off Varlamov’s arm and into the net. All three goals were in just a two minute span.

Just a few minutes later, a John Carlson slapshot on the power play gave the Caps the lead. With 1:30 to play, the train kept rolling. Zdeno Chara scored his first as a Capital to go put his team up 5-3. Washington had scored on Varlamov five times in the period on just 14 shots.

Third Period

Despite his play, Semyon Varlamov began the period in net, while backup Cory Schneider remained on the bench. Early in the period, Justin Schultz left with a bloody nose after a Kieffer Bellows shot to the face.

With 3:12 left, Casey Cizikas drew an interference penalty on Richard Panik. He returned to the bench, but did not play for the rest of the night. Vanecek already saved ten shots in the period, and so a desperate Islanders team immediately pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4. During the power play, Ryan Pulock was called for a trip, and Mat Barzal was called for a misconduct. Tom Wilson scored the last of six Capitals goals empty net goal to beat the Islanders 6-3.

Ben Kule

Die-Hard Islanders fan and writer from Plainview, Long Island, NY. I have a passion and knowledge for this team and I enjoy sharing that with others