Mike Green responded to a questionable hit by the Islanders' Nate Thompson late in the second period, delivering the Capitals' first goal and then adding a nice feed to Brooks Laich for the game-winner in overtime. Washington, lackluster before the hit, seemed to play with more intensity after it, allowing them to erase a 2-0 third-period deficit and win both games of its road trip.
Jose Theodore also was strong, stopping 28 of 30 shots - several from close range - and kept the Islanders down enough to allow the late heroics by Green, Keith Aucoin and Laich.
Washington was very sluggish in the first, getting outshot in the period 10-5 and yielding their second shorthanded goal in as many games. With Blake Comeau in the box for tripping, the Islanders delivered more pressure on Theodore than the Caps could muster on Dwayne Roloson, and Radek Martinek blasted a puck past Theodore with 7:46 left in the frame for the only goal of the period.
The Capitals delivered a bit more pressure in the second period, but still couldn't get one past Roloson despite having three power plays in the frame. However, Washington picked up their play when Thompson kneed Green along the boards with 6:43 left in the second period, causing a lengthy scrum.
Following the hit, the Capitals played with more intensity and began to outwork the Islanders, but couldn't dent Roloson before the end of the frame.
New York then boosted their lead to 2-0 with a nice deflection just 3:44 into the third, tipping a shot from Blake Comeau over Theodore's glove and putting the Isles up by two. However, as the Islanders have had trouble protecting multiple-goal leads so far this young season, Saturday was no different as the Capitals finally dented the twine behind Roloson.
Just 2:18 after Comeau's goal, Green broke in on a rush and blasted the puck in the net for his second goal of the season, and giving new life to the Capitals - while also planting the seed of doubt in the hosts' minds.
Washington then got the equalizer on a nice individual effort by Aucoin, as he picked up his own rebound, circled behind the net and tied the game on a wraparound with 6:52 left.
New York had some good chances to retake the lead late, but Theodore stood strong, stopping 15 of 16 shots he faced to force overtime.
Once overtime started, it didn't take long for the Caps to complete the comeback, as Green skated in along the boards, and fed a puck that Laich redirected past Roloson for the winner 60 seconds into the extra time.
The win moves Washington to 5-2-2 on the year, and was the fifth consecutive game the Caps recorded a point (4-0-1). As for the Islanders, it was another disappointing outing as they are now 0-1-3 when leading after 40 minutes.
Washington heads home for a game Tuesday night with Philadelphia, then the Islanders make a visit to Washington Friday night.
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