Capitals Roll in Preseason Debut

The Washington Capitals opened the preseason with a bang on Day 2 with a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders at the MCI Center. Todd Warriner scored a pair of goals, and Mikael Renberg had two assists to lead the way for the home team.

The game started with a bang as New York's Webb and Washington Cory Sarich went to the penalty box on minors just 1:45 into play. Webb was caught elbowing while Sarich retaliated with a high stick. Neither team scored during the ensuing 4-on-4 action, but the Capitals did get on the board shortly thereafter when Artem Chubarov connected from Mikael Renberg and Andrew Ference at 7:24. Chubarov went to the box just over three minutes later for a cross-check, but Washington killed off the penalty and then made it 2-0. This time Zigmund Palffy was the scorer from Sheldon Souray and Anson Carter. Less than a minute after Palffy's goal, the Capitals went on the power play. Gauthier was the offender as he took a roughing minor at 15:07, and Warriner made New York pay with an unassisted tally just 51 seconds later. The Islanders finally got on the board late in the period on Ehrhoff's goal from Petrovicky and Shishkanov at 18:44.

Much like the first period, the teams wasted little time for the rough stuff in the second. Once again Sarich was involved for the Capitals as he fought back after a Torres charge. Both men went to the box for two minutes at 0:38. Washington extended its lead to 4-1 at the 7:03 mark on Warriner's second goal of the game. This time Frantisek Lukes and Dan Boyle tallied assists. With all the momentum behind them, the Capitals scored again just 1:08 later to complete the rout. Peter Tenkrat notched the goal from Renberg and Sarich. Washington went on the power play just 14 seconds after Tenkrat's goal, but the man advantage lasted just eight seconds as Greg Watson took a cross-checking minor. The penalty kill had to work again just over 4:30 later when Dan Snyder went to the box for charging, but once again the Capitals were up to the challenge and killed off the penalty.

The third period was scoreless as both teams killed penalties.

Manny Legace made 30 saves to pickup the victory. Martin Prusek stopped just six of 11 shots to take the loss for New York.

Washington continues its preseason schedule on Day 3 in Carolina against the Hurricanes.