For too much of the game against the Islanders, Washington wasn't generating many close-in shots, while allowing the young New York squad a lot of good opportunities. The Caps were flat and being beaten to loose pucks by the Isles, and simply weren't delivering the effort they needed to be successful against a squad that despite having just one win on the year had hung tough with several teams so far this year.
But once Green went down and his teammates rushed to defend him, the Capitals played with new vigor, using their speed and making the Islanders at times look like a one-win team. Even after the Isles notched what could have been a deflating goal in the third, Green got back to his old form, rushing into the Islanders' zone with the puck and blasting a perfectly placed shot under the crossbar to put the Capitals on the board.
In overtime, Green delivered the key rush, allowing Brooks Laich to crash the net and beat Dwayne Roloson for the decisive tally.
Green finished the night with three shots, a goal and assist as the game's third star.
Also strong for the Capitals was Jose Theodore, returning after back spasms knocked him out four games ago against San Jose. Washington allowed New York some prime chances and the score could easily have gotten out of hand had Theodore not been solid, stopping 28 of 30 shots.
Washington's power-play also continues to hamper the team, and again yielded another shorthanded goal. The Caps went 0-for-4, keeping them without a goal in their last 13 chances, dating back to the opening minutes of last Saturday's game against Nashville - while allowing two against with the extra man. While Alexander Semin's absence doesn't help, the team still at times had trouble even keeping the puck in the zone.
But, despite the sloppy efforts, the Capitals came away with four points on the trip, but will need to sharpen their game when the Flyers pay a visit next week.
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