Ok, which Islander team will show up? The 0-7-1 team of a couple weeks ago, or the 4-0-0 team of the last few days (and the 4-0-0 is without Sutton and Witt, among others). Whichever it is, it's time for the Caps to step up the play and get a streak going.

Kolzig in goal for the Caps, Ovechkin supposedly is over a slight bout of flu.

Washington off side the first faceoff.... but then good work and pressure for a couple minutes, and at 2:17 gone, Semin breaks in, switches to the backhand and roofs one!

1-0 Caps, early in the 1st.

Isles get a PP, do nothing with it. Later on, the Caps get a PP.... Ovechkin, from 3 feet out in front of an open net, shoots HIGH.... but a few seconds later, green shoots and Laich deflects!

2-0 Caps!!

Schultz took a fall early on, and word is now he is in the locker room, and the Caps will skate only 5 D the rest of the night.

2-0 Caps, end 1st.

Seriously, maybe the best period of hockey they've played this month.

2nd is on, and having told the viewing audience Schultz would not be back, he's back....

6:30 in, Kozlov shoots.... crossbar. Not as good a period, but it's both teams.

Kolzig makes a great save at the right of the crease, but before he can recover the puck is over to the left side, and in the open net.... he's pissed, and smacks the puck away....

2-1 Caps

2-1 Caps, end 2nd.

19:00 left in regulation.... Poti, behind Kolzig's net, tries to send it out around the boards, and... fires it over the glass. Penalty. Isles' PP.

Ugh.

Now, still on the PK, the Caps get a 3 on 2 break.... offside.

Ugh.

Fehr and Lepisto were sent to Hershey today. Penalty killed...

icing Isles. The Caps have had some really really good shifts this game, but they are becoming less frequent as the night goes on.

Fight in front of RDP. More a scrum, but punches were thrown. Semin and Bergeron both go for 4:00, roughing.

Schultz only skated one :04 shift early in the 2nd. I think he's done for the night, if not longer. 11:00 left in regulation, and it looks like both teams are playing for the OT (I know, it's 2-1 right now, but..... ).

10:02 left 3rd.

Jeez.... from behind the net, the puck banks off Olie's left side and in...

2-2.

5:58 left, Caps get the PP..... time to do it!

But no- :32 later, it's 4 on 4......

ugh.

4 on 3 for :11, then a 5 on 4 for the Caps.... oops my bad. Now it goes 4 on 4 for about :32, THEN the Caps get the 5 on 4 PP.

Killed.... faceoff in front of RDP, :17.9 left in regulation.....

OT.

Semin with a great chance about 1:30 in- breaks in, circles behind RDP from RDP's left to right, and tries to stuff in wraparound.... RDP BIG sprawling save...

2:49 left in OT...

1:42 left, Ovechkin hits iron for the second time tonight.... under 1:00....

under :30.... :15....

shootout. I'm out.