Uniondale, NY (My Sportsbook) - The
New York Islanders hope to avoid an 0-2 start tonight when they hold their home opener against the Washington Capitals at Nassau Coliseum.
If anyone knows how important quick starts are it's the Isles, who used a 9-0-1-1 month of October last year as a springboard to their first playoff berth since 1994.
On Thursday night in Buffalo, New York suffered a 5-1 defeat at HSBC Arena. Dave Scatchard provided the Islanders with a 1-0 lead on the power play 1:01 into the contest, but the Sabres posted three goals in the first and two in the second. Goaltender Chris Osgood, an enormous factor in last fall's stellar start, was hit for five goals on 20 shots before getting pulled in favor of Garth Snow to start the third.
The Isles, 21-13-5-2 at home last season, host Nashville on Tuesday before taking the road for two games, beginning Thursday in Philadelphia.
Washington, meanwhile, opened things up with a 5-4 home victory over Nashville Friday night, officially beginning Jaromir Jagr's second season in DC. Jagr contributed a goal and two assists, while Peter Bondra added two scores and a helper. Robert Lang, making his Capitals' debut, and Stephen Peat also tallied, and Kip Miller dished out three assists.
Jagr and Co. took advantage of strict officiating, as there were a total of 21 penalties called on the night. The Caps received 10 power plays as a result and converted on three of them -- two on a 5-on-3. Lang's man-advantage tally with 1:04 remaining in the third proved to be the game-winner, giving rookie head coach Bruce Cassidy his first NHL triumph.
Olaf Kolzig, looking to bounce back from a sub-par season, made 27 saves between the pipes.
Washington opens an eight-game road trip tonight, after going 15-21-5-0 away from home last season. The trek continues on Thursday in Carolina.
Washington went 2-1-1 against New York last season, but the Isles snapped a 22-game series winless streak with a 5-2 home win last April 6. The Capitals are 9-1-1 in their last 11 trips to Uniondale.
