NEW YORK _ The sellout crowd of 13,917 provided an electric atmosphere at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum as the not-so-new-look Islanders opened their season on Friday night.
At times, it still seemed like the first round of last season's playoffs, when the Islanders swept the Penguins, winning the first two games at the Coliseum with a sound defensive structure.
There were other similarities to last season as well. Namely, the Islanders had trouble finishing around the crease in a 2-1 loss to the Capitals.
The Islanders were 21st in the NHL last season with 228 goals and their power play ranked 29th.
Capitals rookie goalie Ilya Samsonov made 25 saves in his first NHL start on Friday night _ getting a glove on Mathew Barzal in the final moment with the Islanders skating six-on-five and the Islanders were 0 for 1 without a shot on the man advantage.
Semyon Varlamov, making his first start for the Islanders after signing a four-year, $20 million deal, made 26 saves.
Last season, the Islanders finished second in the Metropolitan Division behind the Capitals with 103 points in their first season under coach Barry Trotz. They were swept by the Hurricanes after sweeping the Penguins.
Friday night was the first look at the Islanders' two key offseason acquisitions, third-line center Derick Brassard and Varlamov, who replace Valtteri Filppula (Red Wings) and Vezina Trophy finalist Robin Lehner (Blackhawks).
Otherwise, the Islanders' lineup was identical to last season, making Friday night's opener both a continuation of last season and a fresh start.
"It's a combination of both," captain Anders Lee said. "Last season is in the past and we can't just be satisfied with what happened there. It was a good year but it didn't end the way we wanted to. It's a fresh start in that regard. At the same time, it's a continuation of the culture and the structure and our identity as a hockey team. That's the kind of stuff that doesn't change."
Trotz was concerned his team might be at a disadvantage early on since the Capitals had already played a game, beating the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues, 3-2, in overtime at St. Louis on Wednesday night.
And the Capitals scored first, catching the Islanders up ice in a transition rush as Jakub Vrana beat Varlamov underneath his glove from the right circle at 10:25 of the first period.
But the Islanders responded quickly on Devon Toews' fluky goal at 12:27. The defenseman's flip from the boards went off the skates of four Capitals, the last being defenseman Radko Gudas, before beating Samsonov.
The Islanders found their stride in the second period, playing a more physical game and generating more chances.
They just couldn't finish.
The closest the Islanders came was when Brock Nelson pulled the puck around a sprawled Samsonov and tried to tuck the puck inside the right post. But defenseman John Carlson reached out his stick to thwart the shot and Nelson ended the shift in the penalty box for hooking defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler at the Capitals' blue line at 16:48 of the second period.
The Capitals were able to capitalize as T.J. Oshie scored on the power play, from his knees at the crease as he chipped a shot over Varlamov's shoulder at 17:43.
The Capitals hit two posts during the game but the Islanders continued to come oh-so-close as well without scoring. At 7:33 of the third period, Barzal sent in a long shot that was tipped off the right post and the puck rolled through the crease without Jordan Eberle or Lee being able to get their stick on it.
