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Caps rally past Isles

Feb 27, 2011 - 3:57 AM Uniondale, NY (Sports Network) - Mike Knuble and Alexander Semin scored early in the third period, as the Washington Capitals rallied past the New York Islanders, 3-2.

Brooks Laich had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who bounced back from a 6-0 loss to the Rangers on Friday. Michal Neuvirth made 29 saves.

Kyle Okposo and Travis Hamonic lit the lamp for the Islanders, who have lost three in a row. Al Montoya turned aside 19-of-22 shots in defeat.

Down 2-0 in the second period, the Capitals got on the board at the 9:44 mark. Laich took a pass from John Carlson, made his way to the bottom of the left circle and fired a wrister past Montoya.

"We played like a hockey team after [Laich's goal]," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau.

Knuble found the back of the net at the 2:24 mark of the third to make it a 2-2 game. Laich carried the puck toward the net on his backhand before sliding a pass in front. Knuble backhanded the disc past Montoya.

Semin put Washington ahead at the 5:41 mark. Semin carried the puck into the zone on the right side, made his way to the top of the slot and fired a wrister into the back of the net.

Neuvirth made nine saves in the third to preserve the victory.

The Islanders had 14 shots on net over the first 20 minutes, but only managed to score once. Okposo charged down the left side of the ice, made his way to the slot and fired a wrister past Neuvirth.

Hamonic lit the lamp just 33 seconds into the second to make it a 2-0 game. His slapper from the right point made its way through traffic in front and beat Neuvirth.

"We had shut them down for the most part, and then you give them a little bit of life, and they came out firing," Montoya said. "In the second they took the momentum over. Their goalie played well. We had our chances, and we were unable to put it away."

Game Notes

Washington has won five straight and 10 of the last 11 meetings with the Islanders. Washington has also won six straight at New York. The teams will play in Washington on Tuesday...The Capitals claimed forward Marco Sturm off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings. They also recalled forward Jay Beagle and goaltender Todd Ford from Hershey (AHL) and assigned forward Mathieu Perrault to Hershey...New York placed forward Rob Schremp and goaltender Nathan Lawson on waivers.