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Samsonov sparkles: Caps beat Islanders 2-1

By Chris Cerullo

 14 Comments

October 4, 2019 9:29 pm

The Capitals met their Metro Division foe New York Islanders in the Isles home opener. Would the Caps and their rookie netminder be able to spoil the festivities?

The overtime hero on Wednesday, Jakub Vrana was the first to dent the twine in this one. Devon Toews “scored” by passing the puck to three different Capitals skates. TJ Oshie put home a power play marker on his backhand from his knees in front.

Caps beat Islanders 2-1!

  • Ilya Samsonov made his first career NHL start on Long Island, stopping 25 shots in the rather sparkling win. His only goal against hit literally four Caps players on the way to the net. Welcome to the NHL, young fella.
  • Jakub Vrana has sure hit the ground running in the 2019-20 season. The young Czech potted his second of the season in as many games. I would be shocked if he doesn’t hit 30 goals this season, barring injury.
  • It’s very tired to complain about officiating, especially this early in the season, but teams like the Islanders being allowed to get away with about six minor penalties in the first is exactly why they remain somewhat successful. Be better, zebras.

  • The Caps power play still looks exactly the same as it has for like the last eight seasons. At one point that was a great thing, it is now not. I don’t get how you could watch the man advantage unit of last season and not change a thing.
  • On the same night as Smackdown’s premiere on FOX, Mat Barzal did a lot of wrestling type selling in this one. That’s something he’s grown to love doing in his short NHL career. Maybe one day the officials will stop buying it.
  • Really like what I’m seeing from the Caps defense corps so far this season. They seem way more aggressive and the entire group is the most mobile Caps defense probably ever. Standouts in a good way in this game for me were Radko Gudas and the Dmitry Orlov-Nick Jensen pairing.
  • TJ Oshie is on the board, opening his account in very Oshie-like fashion. The rambunctious winger slammed home a backhand shot from his knees in front of the net on a man advantage.

  • Another great night from the rookie Martin Fehervary. Interesting personnel decisions to come with the nearing returns of Evgeny Kuznetsov and Michal Kempny.
  • The Caps really shutdown any sort of Isles comeback attempt. Fabulous defensive hockey.
  • I thought Kuznetsov and co. shut down the Coliseum? Are they allowed to just necromancy that building like this?

Don’t go anywhere because the Caps are back tomorrow for their home opener against the Carolina Hurricanes. I’m sure having to play the young, intense, fast paced Canes team in a back-to-back will be wonderful.

Full RMNB Coverage of Caps at Islanders

Headline photo: NBC Sports Washington

Postgame Chat

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