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Wednesday, Mar. 15 7:00pm ET
Caps' power play overwhelms Isles | |||||
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BOX SCORE
WASHINGTON (AP)-- After playing one of their worst periods in a while, the Washington Capitals rebounded to play two of their best Wednesday night. Chris Simon scored late in the second period to complete Washington's rally from a two-goal deficit Wednesday night and give the Capitals a 4-3 victory over the New York Islanders. The Capitals, with 86 points, hold a four-point lead over the Florida Panthers atop the Southeast Division. It is Washington's biggest advantage this season. Washington fell behind 3-1 in a first period that saw New York hold a 17-7 advantage in shots. The Capitals bounced back to outshoot the Islanders 31-9 after that and score the game's final three goals. "We came out flat in the first period, and they were flying," Simon said. "From experience, the first period, we know it's unacceptable. Our experience took over." Washington coach Ron Wilson said the team's three-day layoff may have affected them in the first period, as well as not taking the Islanders seriously. "We were passive in the first period, not aggressive," Wilson said. "You can talk all you want about being ready for a team like the Islanders, but it's all lip-service until you actually get on the ice." Power plays helped Washington as the Capitals scored on two of three extra-man chances. The Islanders, who rank near the bottom of the NHL in penalty killing, could barely clear the puck and let Washington come up with a number of scoring opportunities in improving to 15-1-3 in its last 19 home games. One of those helped Simon break a 3-3 tie with his power-play goal. Simon beat Kevin Weekes from the left circle for the game-winning goal with 2:45 left in the second period. "It was a great pass from (Glen Metropolit)," Simon said. "I shoot from that area a lot, and I was just trying to get it on net." After Washington's Ken Klee scored 4:50 into the game, Josh Green, Brad Isbister and Johan Davidsson scored within 10:59 for a 3-1 New York lead. Davidsson also added two assists. The Capitals made it 3-2 with 21.8 seconds left in the period when Terry Yake knocked in Jim McKenzie's pass from in front. Yake also had an assist, and that goal seemed to spark Washington. Washington missed on numerous good scoring chances before Peter Bondra tied the game at 3 with a power-play goal with 9:42 remaining in the second. The Capitals still played well in the third despite losing Calle Johansson and Ulf Dahlen with minor injuries. "Give Washington credit, they picked their game up in the second period," New York coach Butch Goring said. "I warned the guys that this was a team that was preparing to go to the playoffs and they were going to be solid all the way through." | ALSO SEE NHL Scoreboard NY Islanders Clubhouse Washington Clubhouse RECAPS Dallas 3 New Jersey 2
Washington 4 AUDIO/VIDEO   Johan Davidsson scores on some great passing.avi: 700 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1 Peter Bondra ties the game.avi: 760 k RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1   | |||||