anybody we see john erskine tonight with a goal.nybody can get done on this team. >> well, the caps generated so much speed in the neutral zone tonight, it's hard to combat that. they were just outstanding automatic three periods of the game. how fast they were and you'll see time and time again when we get to show all the goals again is that it was speed in the neutral zone by the forwards hand the islanders events had no way to answer to this and the goaltending was just bombarded all game long with high flying and hard-shooting capitals. >> let's get you back to uniondale, long island. the man who brought tonight's action, joe beninati and craig laughlin. guys, help me figure this out. you get a goal from john erskine and no points from alex ovechkin and no trouble for the washington capitals. >> a bit of a head scratcher. the washington capitals though i think when they come to town, you guys are just talk about it. how do you game plan this team right now the way they're producing and one guy at the forefront of the attack, sem

brendan morrison with a little help from john erskine. dc up by one as the fans get lively at verizon center. >> craig: i think the caps know what you are talking about. shading well and getting in the lanes and because of that there's only been one defenseman to get a shot on net against the caps. >> joe: here comes the first power play me thinks. caps have a 1 point advantage. here's one for you. if me and buster were hanging over a cliff... and you could only save one of us... - which one would you save? - easy, you! - ooh, me or your mom? - uhh sorry mom! your miller lite? oh man... ( mumbling ) how high is the cliff? do you love the taste of your beer this much? well, you could. try the great pilsner taste of a triple hops brewed miller lite. taste greatness. if me and buster were hanging off a cliff... what is she talking about? i know. >> joe: capitals in the lead about to go to the penalty kill. not often you come to washington to warm up. but that's the story for george mcphee returning from saskatoon where it was 27 below to plu

in the line yum and john erskine held out with an injury. he was a game time decision according to bruce boudreau. tom gay aspirin through the center. alex tanguay building momentum and dives to the inside and hol. >> wasn't very good defense by the capitals. they are not using their speed. joe: beautiful passing play. never pull the trigger and that's the problem with the game this season. he is usually a shooter and he has become a pasto in his first season in tampa bay. joe: that was a bad he cup there. tom fleischmann in the front and then jeff halpern, we remain 4-2 with the nhl sports net. >> earlier he would shoot the puck and that's when you look at the shots. he doesn't have a whole lot. joe: steven stamkos just missed. >> after being outplayed. tampa has found their life again. joe: boy gordon attacked by brandon bow chinkie. this is matt bradley down the wing. >> the caps have not been very good defensively. joe: along the wall steven stamkos with good patience. theodore makes the catching stop. >> only a star playing can pick tha

john erskine cleaning out guys. now the best goal. five way passing play. the best of the season..e.e. t.. it doesn't get better than this. nice we got to watch this baby twice. and then morrison. what a play. top shelf shot against miller and the buffalo sabres. >> of course after all this discussion you realize you're only halfway home. three full months of the regular season loom before the cup chase begins. let's line up with montreal next on csn. oh! blue! time! time out. i touched it. i touched the ball before it went out, coach. come on, alex, the ref did not call that! you gotta be kidding me, alex! it's the championship game! talk to him, coach. i touched, it's their ball. don't foul them when they inbound. team on 'three.' one, two, three. nice going, alex. sorry coach. alex! good call. >> let's do this in dcment it's the washington capitals and the canadiens. this opening draw by papa john's. the new captain is out there manning his left wing position along with nicklas backstrom and tonight mike knuble and alex ovechkin wears the c on the sweater. linesman cova chick a

brendan morrison early 65 seconds in from john erskine. ovechkin, quick relay board to board for knuble who overskates and streit, the icetime leader for the islanders will play clear. john taveras in a foot race there. shaone morrisonn beat him to the bikt. >> craig: taveras has a nice rookie season. he has 17 goals already. he's really playing well. not getting an overload of icetime. when he's been on the ice for about 15 minutes per game, he's really delivered offensively for gordon's club. >> joe: a little cold at the moment in his first month of 2010. still pacing all nhl freshmen when it comes to goals. just one in january. ovechkin cross for backstrom. he fans on it. that was setup splendidly. >> craig: there you see the team passes side to suicide. so important. the caps offensive structure and game plan. >> joe: erskine, blocked. blocked by bailey who was a gametime decision. >> craig: did not take practice this morning. >> joe: he was tied up by hillen and taveras will skate it fear. pass the 4:00 mark. both teams changing up on