Richard Park, A True Blue Islander

Islanders 3 : Capitals (OT)

As if people didn't know it already... the play of one Richard Park last night against the Washington Capitals proved it once more.

During OT, Park had a terrific drive against the Caps (which was helped by Mike Green being cut by the stick blade of his teammate and consequently taken out of the play), resulting in the OT winner, and his sixth of the season. After scoring the goal, he put his arms up in the air and met the fans along the glass in joy, shortly before being mobbed by his teammates. His play earned him the first star of the game, and rightfully so.

Bill Guerin got the second star, and may well have been the first if not for the unbelievable tying goal scored by Alex Ovechkin with 55 seconds left to play, in which he didn't even pick up his head to look at the net- he flung it, and it went in, Ovechkin's 25th, what are the chances. As it was, however, it may have been fitting that the game went to OT, seeing as although the Islanders outshot the Capitals 27-16, neither team really dominated. This marks the second straight win in OT (last one- December 8th vs. TB) for the Isles, and the second straight win, to leave a good vibe until after Christmas, at least.

Radek Martinek is another Isle in the spotlight- in 23 shifts and 26:03 total ice time, he had four takeaways and a blocked shot, and was very effective on Ovechkin along with Brendan Witt, at least until the tying goal he scored in the third. Until then, Ovechkin was kept off the puck well throughout the game, as the D did what they did Friday night on Sidney Crosby in Pittsburgh, and the offense also challenged the young Washington defense quite a bit, though Olaf Kolzig (24 svs) was up to the task- until OT, that was.

Now the Isles can enjoy the break, and breathe a little easier knowing that they got all four points they needed, while still aspiring towards more afterward.