Caps Postgame – 2-1 win over Islanders

But rookie goalie Michal Neuvirth kept the game tied and Washington’s stars did what they do best. Alex Ovechkin recorded his fourth goal late in the second period. Nicklas Backstrom knocked a power-play shot by Ovechkin into the net late in the third period for the game winner. Read all about those heroics and Neuvirth’s play in our game story here. As for some other news and notes:

» Rookie defenseman John Carlson has struggled a bit through four games. The 21-year-old could do little wrong last season. But full-time duty in the NHL is a different animal. He did manage a secondary assist on the game-winning goal. He was also alone in front with Islanders forward Nino Niederreiter when New York scored its first-period goal. There were also a good number of giveaways and questionable decisions. Again, we’re talking about a 21-year-old rookie and the Caps figured growing pains were inevitable. Carlson set the bar so high for himself, after all. Bruce Boudreau was pretty blunt about his play against the Islanders.

“[Carlson] got an assist tonight. But points isn’t everything,” Boudreau said. “He struggled. He’s going to have games like that as a rookie But he wasn’t very good.”

» Defenseman Mike Green took his last shift at 14:18 of the third period. The reason? According to Boudreau, he suffered “a stinger” and is listed as day-to-day. “He’ll be fine,” Boudreau said.

» Thanks to the Caps’ crack public relations staff: The team hasn’t allowed a power-play goal in four games this season. They never had a streak that long in 2009-10. The last time they did it was Dec. 7 to Dec. 13 in 2008.

» Boudreau on his decision to start Ovechkin and Backstrom on separate lines and his decision to re-unite them in the second period:

“I just thought in the beginning they needed a break from each other. And then I just thought as the second period started they’d had a long enough break…so I put them back.”

Boudreau elaborated on that later when pressed by Comcast SportsNet’s Jill Sorenson. 

“When you’re in a slump you want the other one to do great. Okay, so Ovi is looking for Nicky all the time. And Nicky is looking for Ovi instead of doing the right thing. So you get them away from each other so they can continue to play their own game. And then once they feel the confidence you put them back. Once Nicky got the assist I knew he was going to get more. Because he never stops at one when he gets a little bit of a roll going.”

» Neuvirth continues to impress – no small matter with Semyon Varlamov soon to return from injury. Goalie controversy anyone? Boudreau’s not having it.

“[Varlamov is] ready. But [Neuvirth] is making a great case for himself. He’s gotten better in every game and tonight was his best game. So we’ll see. We know Varly is a very good goalie, too. It’s not ever going to be a controversy I think. We’re lucky and we’re blessed with two good young goalies.”

Neuvirth’s numbers are pretty to look at. A 2.22 goals-against average – 19^th in the league this early in the season – and a .924 save percentage. Ditto on the NHL ranking. Whatever. All the Caps care about is his 3-1 record. Neuvirth has also played the most minutes (243) of any goalie. Olie Kolzig was the last Washington goalie to play the first four games in their entirety (2005-06). 

» Backstrom not only scored his first goal of the season. He also assisted on Ovechkin’s second-period tally and won 12-of-20 faceoffs.

» Credit forward D.J. King for going to work early. Brought in as an enforcer during an offseason trade with St. Louis, the 6-foot-2, 228-pounder – in his first action of the year – fought Islanders forward Trevor Gillies just 2:47 into the contest. King got some shots in, but was ultimately dropped in an even bout. He earned 4:43 of ice time overall.

» Caps defenseman John Erskine blocked a game-high five shots.

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