How big was Radek Martinek last night?

With everyone on the blueline seemingly out injured last night, Martinek played some textbook defensive hockey against the Capitals. It was like a personal mission for him to stop Alex Ovechkin, who only had one shot on Rick DiPietro last night. A clinic of 28 minutes last night. I hope the organization keeps tape of Martinek's performance to show younger defensemen in the system how to do all of the little things right. Martinek is just a master of positioning. Amazing.

Also, let's not look past the effort of Freddy Meyer, the ninth defenseman on the depth chart in training camp who played with Martinek last night as the first shut-down defensive pairing for Ted Nolan. Say what we might about injuries being the reason that Meyer has moved up the ladder so quickly but the guy has been given a chance to play important minutes for the team that waived him after training camp and he has more than made the most out of the opportunity to prove himself.

After letting the Caps get ahead 2-0, the Islander goals were scored by two guys who have been quite cold as of late--Miro Satan (on a backhand tap-in; assist to Guerin) and Josef Vasicek. Trent Hunter's slapshot boomed off the boards behind Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig and the puck landed right on Big Joe's stick. With Kolzig out of his crease to cut down the angle on Hunter, Vasicek backhanded the puck from behind the goal line and it banked in off Kolzig's arm with less than nine minutes left in regulation. It was Vasicek's second goal in the last thirty games.

Rick DiPietro earned his 24th win of the season stopping 32 shots, including some very difficult saves. He also shut down former Islander Viktor Kozlov, Ovechkin and Alex Semin in the shootout. The comeback was sealed by Mike Comrie, who slid a backhand through Kolzig's legs for the winner.

The Islanders now have 65 points and are one point away from tying Boston and the Flyers at the end of the Eastern Conference playoff race. Last week, we thought we were sellers. Now, maybe Garth Snow can swing some goals over to the Island before the trading deadline this Tuesday.

Chris Simon is scheduled to return tonight at home as the Isles face the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning are surprising cellar dwellers in the Eastern Conference and with lots of teams bunched up in the east, the Isles need to make five wins in a row six wins in a row tonight against a team in turmoil. Then, you know, make it seven in Newark on Saturday.

Speaking of five game winning streaks, the heat from the Coliseum is extending over the Bridge. The Sound Tigers also have a five game winning streak in the American League as well. Last night the Tigers beat the Norfolk Admirals 4-3 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. Matt Keith had three points and Kyle Okposo had a power play goal as the Sound Tigers moved into sole possession of fourth place in the East Division.