The Capitals were able to score on the power play in a 3-2 overtime win.
WASHINGTON — All eyes were on Ivan Miroshnichenko as he made his NHL debut, but his fellow call-up in Hendrix Lapierre also stole the spotlight while Dylan Strome was ultimately the one to call game for the Washington Capitals against the New York Islanders.
Lapierre had a multi-point outing, and Dylan Strome score his team-leading 13th of the season on a 4-on-3 power play en route to a 3-2 win.
Here are all the takeaways from the victory:
Dylan Strome Plays Hero After Islanders Rally Twice, Penalty Kill & Kuemper Come Up Big
Washington was in for a tall task against the Islanders, with Bo Horvat riding an impressive 11-game point streak and the team playing some solid hockey all-around. And though the Capitals weathered the storm in the first two periods, they stepped off the gas a bit in the third.
New York was able to even the score in the third thanks to Anders Lee capitalizing on a John Carlson turnover, and the team ultimately outshot Washington 16-8 in the final frame.
Ultimately, things would head to overtime, where Dylan Strome would capitalize on a 4-on-3 power play. After a lengthy review for a high stick, it counted for the win.
It marked his 13th goal of the season and extended his point streak.
Despite some slip-ups, Washington did a lot right defensively. The penalty kill went 3-for-3 against the Islanders, who have the fifth-best PP in the league, and Darcy Kuemper also stopped 30 of 32 shots.
Lapierre Shines In Top-6 As Protas Stays Hot
Getting another call-up to the NHL following an impressive return to the Hershey Bears, Hendrix Lapierre made the most of his opportunity to again show head coach Spencer Carbery what he can do, and he also got to impress in a top-6 role.
With Connor McMichael a late scratch due to illness, Lapierre drew in as the team's second-line center alongside Anthony Mantha and Aliaksei Protas, and he was sure to capitalize on each shift.
Lapierre was making good plays and showing strong chemistry with Mantha and Protas, and ultimately, he scored his second of the season thanks to a great pass to the slot courtesy of Protas, who capitalized on a fumble from Brock Nelson.
Protas got an assist on the play to add to his even-strength point total. His 13 points at 5-on-5 lead the team as he continues to be a threat offensively.
Both also helped lead the charge in what was ultimately a dominant first period for D.C., and in the second, that line would again be involved in the go-ahead goal.
Lapierre finished with a goal and assist, marking his second multi-point game of the season. Protas also impressed with his awareness and playmaking.
Edmundson Nets First As Capital, Washington Gets Goals From Blue Line In Back-To-Back Games
Over the team's first 26 games of the season, they had just two goals from their blue line. Now, a defenseman has a goal in back-to-back games, as Joel Edmundson would chip in when his team needed him to.
With Hudson Fasching tying the game 1-1 early in the second, Washington needed a goal, and Edmundson answered the call. He picked up a feed from Anthony Mantha and rifled a slapshot from the point past Semyon Varlamov, who was being screened heavily by Protas in front.
It marked Edmundson's first goal as a Capital and first since March 14, 2023 (28 games).
Miroshnichenko Impresses In NHL Debut
All eyes were on Ivan Miroshnichenko, who made his NHL debut just one year after being drafted. The 19-year-old was all smiles as he took his rookie lap and saw his dream come true after a long road to get to that point, which featured a battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma and stops in the KHL and AHL.
Wearing his signature No. 63, Miroshnichenko made the most of his debut, getting a couple of good looks while skating alongside Matthew Phillips and countryman Evgeny Kuznetsov. What stood out most about his game, though, was his speed and his shot.
He finished the night with two shots, five attempts, three scoring chances and two hits through 10:14 minutes of ice time.
Top Shelf Takes
- Anthony Mantha picked up an assist on Edmundson's goal and now has points in five of his last seven games.
- Trevor van Riemsdyk was tripped up in the second and left the game for a short amount of time, but ultimately returned and finished out the night.
- Alex Ovechkin's goal drought has now hit 14 games.