Okposo returns, but Isles fall to Capitals
New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (21) skates back to the bench during the second period against the Washington Capitals at Nassau Coliseum. (Jan. 20, 2011) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
Kyle Okposo made his return to the Islanders, but it wasn't enough to boost them over the Capitals last night.
Falling behind early for the eighth straight game and going 0-for-6 on the power play, the Islanders lost to Washington, 2-1, at Nassau Coliseum in Okposo's season debut.
The 22-year-old forward played for the first time since suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder in an intrasquad scrimmage in September.
Okposo had only one shot on goal in 17 shifts in 18:05 of ice time, but he said he felt pretty good considering the length of time he has missed.
"My timing was a little off,'' he said, "but other than that, my legs felt good and my lungs felt good, too."
On Okposo's second shift of the game, Alex Ovechkin maneuvered past him at the right circle and passed in front to Jason Chimera, who scored his seventh goal at 3:41 of the first period. It marked the eighth straight game that the Islanders have given up the first goal.
"[Nicklas] Backstrom was coming in there; I was backchecking on him,'' Okposo said. "I knew he was looking for Ovechkin and I pulled up on him at the last second and that was all the time he needed to pass it in front.''
Ovechkin also assisted on Backstrom's goal in the second period as the Caps took a 2-0 lead. Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro, who returned after missing practice Wednesday because of the flu, made a nice stop to stuff Ovechkin in the crease but wasn't ready for the second wave. He left a rebound and Backstrom crashed the net to capitalize at 3:38.
Scoring a goal in his third straight game, Islanders winger Michael Grabner easily blew past defenseman John Carlson and sharply backhanded the puck over Caps netminder Braden Holtby to cut Washington's lead in half at 5:15 of the second.
"[Josh Bailey] had the puck on his stick. I knew he was going to flip it. It was a good shift by him,'' Grabner said. "I was just using my speed to get around the defenseman.''
DiPietro, who returned Monday from a groin strain that shelved him for five games, battled through the flu and received fluids via IV after making 22 saves. He did not travel with the team to Buffalo last night.
Okposo's return was a blunt reminder of the devastating losses that have plagued the Islanders from the onset of training camp.
In the same week as Okposo's injury, they lost top defenseman Mark Streit to a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his left shoulder. The former All-Star began skating Monday but is unlikely to return before March.
With Okposo back, however, the Islanders believe that a major void has been filled.
"He's a big part of our team," Zenon Konopka said. "To get a player like that back in the middle of the season is unbelievable."
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