Stat Trick: Isles 3, Capitals 2 (SO)

1. The Isles are now 4-21-3 when trailing after two periods, meaning they've earned 11 points when trailing after 40 minutes. (The Isles are 19-0-1 when leading after two periods) . They've now won consecutive games that they've trailed after 2 periods, and are 2-0-1 in the last three that they trailed heading to the 3rd.

2. The Islanders have won 5 straight games for the first time since winning the final six games of 2003 and have their first six-game point streak (5-0-1) since Feb 19 -Mar 3, 2007. (Both stats single season-- the Isles won their final four games of last season and their first two games of this season)

3. Rick DiPietro has won five straight decisions for the third time in his career. He won 7 straight games in 2006 and won 5 games, with a no decision, in March 2004. Ricky is now 3-2 this season in shootouts and 16-9 in his career.

4. Radek Martinek had a tremendous game, playing 28:17, and being credited his 5 shots. He spent most of the night shadowing Alex Ovechkin and held the sniper without a point. Ovechkin attempted 11 shots, but got only 1 on goal. Four were blocked by the Isles and six others missed the net (including at least two that hit the post).

5. The Islanders blocked 21 shots, including 5 by Bergeron and 5 by Meyer.

6. For the first time since his injury, the Isles really missed Mike Sillinger on faceoffs, dropping 33 of 56 including 11 of 13 to David Steckel. Stechel beat Comrie 8 out of 9; Comrie lost 14 of 21 overall.

7. Mike Green played 33:59 for Washington, including over 11 minutes in both the 2nd and 3rd periods.

8. The Isles get back to NHL .500 on the road with the win (13-13-4).

9. The Isles win the season series 3 games to 1, and 6 points to 4. Under Nolan, the Isles are 3-0-1 in Washington after winning just twice in Washington since 1997. The Isles have held Ovechkin and friends to two goals or fewer in all 8 games under Nolan and in the last 9 games vs Washington overall. Going back further, the Isles are 11-2-1 in their last 14 games against Washington after winning only 1 of the prior 29 and 6 of the prior 42.

10. The Isles are 20-10 in all-time shootouts. Only Dallas, New Jersey and Edmonton have more shootout wins. Only Dallas (26-7) and Tampa Bay (18-7) has a better winning percentage. Comrie's winner was his first shootout goal this season (3 attempts); he is 5 for 14 (35.7%) in his career on shootouts.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick. Eric has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, and celebrated his 26th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2008.