Iafrate

Reading time, two minutes:One of the features of the Washington Capitals' home game against Vancouver last Friday was defenseman Al Iafrate's hat trick of penalties (cross-checking, interference, holding) followed by a game misconduct and ejection. And then he ended up being named the No. 1 star of the 3-3 tie. The Caps, 3-3-3 the last three weeks (talk about a rut), host the North Stars tonight.* Andrew Maynard is a solid 8-to-5 favorite in his NABF light-heavyweight title bout against former Olympic gold medalist Frank Tate in the Paramount at Madison Square Garden Friday.

LANDOVER -- Terry Murray's worst fears came true last night at the Capital Centre.Forty-eight hours after an emotional victory over the Montreal Canadiens, his Washington Capitals came out flat in the first period against the struggling New York Islanders.Washington gave up two first-period goals to the Islanders and couldn't quite recover despite a frantic two-goal, third-period rally and lost, 3-2, before a crowd of 17,366.The same fans who were cheering the Capitals' comeback were booing a little in the first period.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals reverted to their old style of hockey last night.Instead of using a barrage of goals, the Capitals used a superior defensive effort to defeat the Montreal Canadiens, 3-1, before the fourth consecutive sellout -- 18,130 -- at the Capital Centre.The Washington defense, anchored by goalie Don Beaupre, who made two big saves in the final five minutes, was outstanding. Beaupre stopped Brent Gilchrist on a breakaway with five minutes remaining and then stopped Mike McPhee with two minutes left on a point-blank shot from just off the crease.

PITTSBURGH -- In the rotation of playoff heroes for the Washington Capitals, last night was defenseman Al Iafrate's turn.Iafrate combined key defensive plays with one of the biggest goals of his career, the game-winner at 15 minutes, 31 of the third period. The goal helped the Capitals to a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins before a sellout crowd of 16,164 at the Civic Arena and a 1-0 lead in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs series."Every game it's been a different guy," Iafrate said.

The Washington Capitals received some bad news on the eve of the opening game of the Stanley Cup playoffs tonight (7:35) against the New York Rangers in Madison Square Garden.The Capitals, already a defenseman short because of Mikahil Tatarinov's torn hamstring muscle, will be without Al Iafrate for at least for the first two games of the Patrick Division series because of a combination of the flu and emotional problems.Iafrate, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in mid-January, missed the last two games of the regular season with the flu, but he failed to recover.

Washington Capitals coach Terry Murray said he knows the reason for his team's poor showing of late -- a lack of toughness.To remedy this, the Capitals made deals to get defenseman Al Iafrate and right wing John Kordic from the Toronto Maple Leafs and defenseman Ken Sabourin from the Calgary Flames. Iafrate and Sabourin have played for the Capitals, and Kordic, who has not played in three weeks, is getting in shape. Since Iafrate and Sabourin have been in the lineup, the Capitals have not lost.

The struggling Washington Capitals, attempting to get themselves on track for the Stanley Cup playoffs, traded defenseman Bob Rouse and center Peter Zezel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defenseman Al Iafrate yesterday.Iafrate, 24, in his seventh season in the National Hockey League, has three goals and 15 assists in 42 games. Last season, Iafrate had a career year with 21 goals and 42 assists in 75 games. He led Toronto defensemen in scoring the past three seasons."He is an excellent player with a lot of physical tools," Capitals coach Terry Murray said after practice in St. Louis.

LANDOVER -- Defenseman Al Iafrate, who had asked the Toronto Maple Leafs to trade him, received his wish yesterday when he was dealt to the Washington Capitals for center Peter Zezel and defenseman Bob Rouse.Iafrate had 21 goals and 42 assists last year, and led Toronto's defensemen in scoring in each of the past three years.This season he has three goals and 15 assists in 42 games.Off-the-ice problems were blamed for the decline and led him to ask general manager Floyd Smith to try and make a deal.