Isles rally but Varlamov's relief effort, Clark's decider lift Caps in 11-round SO

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• Caps Clip Islanders In 11-Round Shootout

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	Washington Capitals goalie Semyon Varlamov (40), of Russia, makes a save on New York Islanders center Rob Schremp... (AP Photo/Nick Wass) · View Photo · Photo Gallery

Game Information

Arena: Verizon Center Location: Washington, DC

Referees: Marc Joannette Linesmen: Steve Miller, Jean Morin

Attendance: 18,277 (97.9% full)

Team Stat Comparison
62	Goals	80
67	Goals Against	67
16	Power Play Goals	22
17	Power Play Goals Allowed	20
2	Shorthanded Goals	0
0	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	2
274	Penalty Minutes	238
12	Average Penalty Minutes	10

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			NYI	WAS
0:08		Alexander Semin Assists: Brendan Morrison	0	1
1:02		Matt Moulson Assists: Mark Streit	1	1
5:10		Mark Streit Assists: Bruno Gervais, Rob Schremp	2	1
6:54		Sean Bergenheim Unassisted	3	1
13:42		Tomas Fleischmann (Power Play) Assists: Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Knuble	3	2
2ND PERIOD			NYI	WAS
5:35		Alexander Semin (Power Play) Assists: Mike Green	3	3
16:46		Eric Fehr Assists: Chris Clark, Mike Green	3	4
3RD PERIOD			NYI	WAS
17:52		Trent Hunter (Power Play) Assists: John Tavares, Frans Nielsen	4	4
OT			NYI	WAS
No scoring this period			4	4
Shootout Summary
	Start of Shootout period
	Shootout attempt by Nicklas Backstrom MISSES wide of net (Snapshot 15 ft)
	Shootout GOAL scored by Jeff Tambellini on Semyon Varlamov (Wristshot 21 ft)
	Shootout GOAL scored by Alexander Semin on Dwayne Roloson (Backhand 12 ft)
	Shootout attempt by John Tavares MISSES wide of net (Wristshot 19 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Brendan Morrison SAVED by Dwayne Roloson (Wristshot 24 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Rob Schremp SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Backhand 10 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Tomas Fleischmann SAVED by Dwayne Roloson (Wristshot 21 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Frans Nielsen MISSES hit crossbar (Backhand 14 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Brooks Laich MISSES wide of net (Wristshot 16 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Matt Moulson SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Wristshot 19 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Mathieu Perreault SAVED by Dwayne Roloson (Backhand 9 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Richard Park SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Backhand 9 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Mike Green MISSES hit crossbar (Snapshot 29 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Sean Bergenheim SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Backhand 12 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Mike Knuble MISSES wide of net (Backhand 16 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Josh Bailey SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Wristshot 16 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Eric Fehr SAVED by Dwayne Roloson (Wristshot 27 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Trent Hunter SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Wristshot 13 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Matt Bradley SAVED by Dwayne Roloson (Backhand 12 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Jon Sim SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Wristshot 9 ft)
	Shootout GOAL scored by Chris Clark on Dwayne Roloson (Snapshot 33 ft)
	Shootout attempt by Mark Streit SAVED by Semyon Varlamov (Wristshot 21 ft)
	End of Shootout
	End of Shootout period

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals keep finding different ways to win without top scorer Alex Ovechkin.

Chris Clark scored the deciding goal in the 11th round of the shootout, and backup goalie Semyon Varlamov came on in relief and carried the Washington Capitals to a 5-4 comeback victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.

"Alex is the best player in the league, and he's going to get the ice time that he deserves," Clark said. "But if he goes down, there's a lot of ice time to share. So I think the guys are definitely putting the effort in and showing that they can do it when you give them a chance."

Ovechkin has missed four games due to an upper body strain, and Clark is one of the Capitals who have pitched in to fill the void. Clark has assists in a career-best four straight games and five of six. A total of 10 players have scored a goal during Ovechkin's absence to help Washington win three straight.

Clark had never scored a shootout goal before this one. He was 0 for 2 in his career before getting called on in the 11th round with the shootout tied 1-1.

The captain then beat New York goalie Dwayne Roloson with a snap shot, and Varlamov sealed the win by denying Mark Streit's shootout attempt.

Jeff Tambellini gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead in the first round of the shootout, and Alexander Semin tied it in the second. Varlamov made several big stops, saving the last seven New York shots.

Varlamov came on 6:54 into the game after starting goalie Jose Theodore allowed three goals on five shots. Semin scored just 8 seconds in before New York netted three goals in a row, but Varlamov came on and stopped 25 of 26 shots.

"(Theodore) looked a little rattled, and he looked a little down," Washington coach Bruce Boudreau said. "The last time he was pulled, Varly came in and shut the door, and I thought he could do it again."

Semin scored two regulation goals for the Capitals plus the one in the shootout. He finished with 11 shots and created numerous scoring chances.

"He looked like he wanted to play," Boudreau said. "When he wants to play, he could've had six. He's scary good when he's motivated."

Semin's early goal seemed to give Washington momentum, but the Islanders quickly rebounded. Matt Moulson brought New York into a 1-1 tie when he put in a rebound just 1:02 into the game.

Streit gave New York the lead at 5:10. Sean Bergenheim then beat Theodore with a backhander on a breakaway to make it 3-1 at 6:54.

The Capitals rallied as Tomas Fleischmann and Semin scored power-play goals to tie it at 3. Eric Fehr then beat Roloson on a spinning backhand shot late in the second period for a 4-3 Capitals lead.

But the Islanders forced overtime when Trent Hunter scored a power-play goal with 2:08 left in regulation.

New York didn't have a power play until the third period, but the Capitals committed three penalties -- including two in the final five minutes. Hunter scored on a slap shot during the second power play.

"That third period was huge for us," New York coach Scott Gordon said. "To be able to draw the penalties against a team that prides themselves on their third periods, it was good to see us come back and have that power play come up big."

Game notes
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman came to the game and met with KHL President Alex Medvedev and others. ... Semin's early goal tied Gaetan Duchesne's team record for fastest goal at the start of the game, set in 1987. ... Fleischmann has six goals in his seven games this season. ... Two of defenseman Streit's three goals this season have come against Washington.