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Guerin's hat trick helps Islanders defeat Capitals

Oct 19, 2007 - 3:29 AM WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Captain Bill Guerin helped the New York Islanders get back to their winning ways.

Guerin recorded his ninth career hat trick as the Islanders posted a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

Defenseman Bryan Berard scored a decisive power-play goal and Sean Bergenheim also tallied for New York, which had lost two straight and three of four after earning victories in the first two games of the season.

Rick DiPietro turned away 27 shots for the Islanders, who have won nine of 12 vs. the Capitals.

With New York leading, 1-0, on Bergenheim's goal with 4:43 left in the first period, Guerin doubled New York's advantage in the second. With a two-man advantage, the 36-year-old - who was signed to a two-year deal in July - received a pass at the left side of the net from defenseman Chris Campoli.

Instead of taking a quick shot in traffic, the 16-year veteran circled around to just below the point, wound up and fired a hard slap shot that went between the pads of goaltender Olaf Kolzig.

After Washington knotted the game at 2-2 with third-period goals by Alex Ovechkin and Tomas Fleischmann, New York used the power play again to move back ahead.

Berard whistled a shot from the point past Kolzig midway through the final session before a man-advantage goal - New York's third of the game - by Guerin with 5:52 left increased the margin to 4-2.

"It was one of those power-play goals where we moved around a little bit," Berard of his tally. "I got my shot through. I didn't see it go in, to be honest with you."

Guerin completed his first hat trick since March 13 against Chicago with a shorthander with just 92 seconds remaining. However, he felt Berard's goal was the most important one of the night.

"His goal was huge," Guerin said. "It gave us a big lift because we were taking too many penalties. We were taking too long shifts. We were tired. We had guys who were tired, but that goal got us back in the game. It got us momentum and gave us confidence."

New York coach Ted Nolan is thrilled to have Guerin on his team and was not worried that he hadn't tallied until Thursday.

"A guy like Billy, he's a proven goal-scorer," Nolan said. "Once he gets the first one, things started to roll. It was good to get him scoring."

The disparity between the teams was the greatest on the power play. The Islanders were 3-for-5, while the Capitals went 0-for-6. In the season's first six games, Washington has converted on just four of 31 man advantages.

"I'm going to have to make some changes," Capitals coach Glen Hanlon said. "We've got offensive players, but we're just going to have to make the mix different."

Entering as the league leader in save percentage, Kolzig stopped just 16 shots for Washington, which has lost four in a row after opening with three straight victories.

"We played all game," Fleischmann said. "We had good shots in the first period. We just didn't handle those bounces in the first and second periods. We've got to keep working, get regrouped. Each guy has to start working harder, and it's going to come."

Kolzig declined comment after the game.