Winnik nets pair as Capitals defeat Islanders
WASHINGTON -- Daniel Winnik scored twice, Braden Holtby made 21 saves, and the Washington Capitals defeated the New York Islanders 2-1 on Saturday night to win their home opener.
Winnik made it 1-0 in the first period and added the tiebreaker in second for Washington (1-0-1).
Ryan Strome scored a first-period power-play goal for the Islanders (0-2).
Thomas Greiss, in net for New York after Jaroslav Halak started the opener Thursday night, had 26 saves.
The Islanders pulled Greiss with just under two minutes left, but couldn't get the equalizer past Holtby.
The Capitals won despite going 0-for-5 on the power play. The Islanders converted 1 of 2 chances.
Washington's Zach Sanford, playing his second NHL game, made a huge play midway through the third period when he used his long reach to poke away a pass and break up what would have been a 2 on 0 Islanders' break-in on Holtby.
Islanders rookie Mathew Barzal had an inauspicious NHL debut when he was whistled for back-to-back penalties early in the first period.
New York killed off both Washington power plays, but the Capitals took a 1-0 lead at 11:58 when John Carlson fired a wrist shot from the point and Winnik deflected the puck past Greiss.
The Islanders tied it with a power-play goal at 13:49 when Strome centered the puck from the left circle and it deflected off defenseman Brooks Orpik and into the net.
Winnik made it 2-1 at 7:46 of the second period. He carried into the New York zone and when he cut to the middle, Islanders defenseman Travis Hamonic fell down. In alone on Greiss, Winnik deked to his left and slid the puck home for his second goal.
It was Winnik's fifth career multi-goal game.
NOTES: Islanders LW Jason Chimera spent the last seven seasons with the Capitals before signing with New York in the offseason. Chimera totaled 82 goals and 115 assists for 197 points over 490 games with Washington. ... New York C Mathew Barzal made his NHL debut at 19 years old. He was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2015 entry draft. ... The Capitals went 29-8-4 at home last season. ... Washington LW Alex Ovechkin entered the night 34 points shy of 1,000 for his career. ... C Alan Quine, LW Anthony Beauvillier and G Jaroslav Halak were the Islanders' scratches. ... Washington scratches included D Taylor Chorney and RW Brett Connolly.