Stat Trick: Washington 7, Isles 2

Brendan Morrison scored just 65 seconds into play, and it was all down hill from there for the Isles, who lost defensemen Jack Hillen for 6-8 weeks as they dropped a 7-2 decision to the Capitals at the Coliseum on Tuesday.  On to the trick:

1. Morrison and Alexander Semin scored in the first five minutes for the Caps; the Isles, who had not trailed at any point during their six game home winning streak, have now allowed the first goal in three straight at home (1-2-0). 

2. Rob Schremp got the Isles temporarily into the game with his fourth power play goal of the season at 6:03 of the first.  It was his sixth goal overall.  The game disintegrated late in the first period when Hillen was injured when Alex Ovechkin's shot broke his jaw and cost him several teeth. A relentless Mike Knuble scored less than a minute later, and when Semin added his second goal of the game with six seconds left in the period the Caps had seized control.  Semin now has a six game point streak, and is averaging two points per game during that stretch.  The Caps have been tough on many opponents in the first period this season, outscoring their opposition 65-36.

3. John Erskine, Jason Chimera and Brooks Laich had the other goals for Washington. Kyle Okposo, off a nifty feed from John Tavares, had the only Islander response.  It was the first goal Erskine had scored since January 19, 2008.

...a few more...

4. Each team used both of their goalies.  Dwayne Roloson was chased after one period, having made just eight saves.  Rick DiPietro stopped 18 of 21 in relief.  Capital goalie Jose Theodore left with a lower body injury after making 18 saves in two period; Michael Neuvirth stopped eleven shots in a perfect third period.

5.  It was the seventh straight win for Washington, and 10th in their last 11.  The Caps have scored 35 goals during their seven game win streak, winning each game by at least two goals.  The Isles, on the other hand, scored just five goals in their three game homestand.

6.  Ovechkin led all players with ten shots on goal, but was on the ice only for the Caps' power play goal and did not figure in the scoring.  The Caps had six players with two points, and six players with a plus three rating.  Bruno Gervais and Jon Sim were each -4 for the Isles, while Freddy Meyer and Blake Comeau were -3.

7.  Okposo, who scored for the second straight game, is now tied with Josh Bailey for third on the club in goals with 12.  Six of Okposo's goals have come in January.

8.  The seven Capital goals equals their highest total at the Coliseum.  They last scored seven at the Coliseum on March 26, 1996.

9.  This was the third time this season that Roloson has been pulled, and the first time that he has been pulled from a start this early since February 7, 2009 (for Edmonton, against Detroit).

10.  The Caps win the season series three games to one, and seven points to four.  Each of the other three games in the series had been decided in overtime. Washington has won four straight at the Coliseum, but this was the first one that did not reach overtime.  Overall, the Caps have points in ten straight games against the Isles (7-0-3).

Up next:  The Isles begin a four game road trip in Carolina on Thursday.  Each of the first two games of the series this season have been decided in extra time with the Isles owning both an overtime and shootout win.  This is the first of two meetings of the teams in a nine day span.  The Isles will be looking to sweep the pair of games in Raleigh for the second time in the last three seasons.  Following this trip, the Isles will have only 25 games to play, and 15 will be at the Coliseum, including nine of the next 12.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick, statistician on Islander home telecasts since 1982. Visit my blog: forever1940.blogspot.com and follow me on Twitter @ehornick