Plenty of goalie Dwayne Roloson’s time was spent fixated on Alexander Ovechkin —
but despite a goal from the Great Eight, Roloson’s side came out on top.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Sometimes, when you have as much talent as the Caps’ roster, you get in your own way. Despite coming in on a six-game winning streak, facing a team that was 2-4-5, a hefty 40-28 advantage in shots, and a solid performance by Jose Theodore, the Capitals lost 4-3 in overtime on Friday.

Mark Streit provided the overtime game-winner — the Islanders’ first overtime score this season. It’s the second time this year New York has forced Washington into overtime, and defenseman Tom Poti (a former Islander) isn’t quite sure why.

“We seem to have good games against these guys,” Poti said. “Six out of eight of our last games against them went to overtime. For whatever reason, we match up well against them.”

The Caps got off to a good start: scoring on the ensuing power play after the Islanders’ Kyle Okposo got 4 minutes for high-sticking, Alex Ovechkin eventually cashing in with his 14th goal with 58 seconds left on the penalty. Thomas Fleischmann also came up big with two goals in only his second game back on the Caps’ roster this season — the second one came on a smooth power play with assists from Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom.