Tabaracci

LANDOVER -- Playing for the Washington Capitals obviously agrees with goalie Rick Tabaracci.Two games started. One shutout recorded.Tabaracci stopped every shot Montreal mustered last night, as the Capitals beat the Canadiens, 4-0.It was the second shutout of Tabaracci's career."

Here the Washington Capitals are at the start of postseason play, and suddenly Don Beaupre is not the No. 1 goalie.Is this any time to shake up the status quo?Evidently, because that's exactly what Capitals coach Terry Murray did yesterday in preparation for Game 1 of the Patrick Division semifinals against the New York Islanders tonight at the Capital Centre.It will be newcomer Rick Tabaracci in the net tonight, while Beaupre, the man who has been Washington's No. 1 goaltender for four regular seasons and three playoff series, sits it out.Murray would not reveal his choice as starter, but Beaupre said after a meeting with Murray that Tabaracci will start.

The Washington Capitals, a shambles just two weeks ago, might have turned the corner and discovered prosperity."With the way things have been going in the first three games of this road trip, everyone is feeling the confidence rise," said Washington coach Terry Murray. "We've just continued improving the play we showed from our last three home games, and we're now playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm."After an 0-6 start, the Capitals are 4-1 in their past five games, the latest Wednesday night's 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks, co-leaders of the Pacific Division with a 7-2 record and 14 points.

LANDOVER -- A Washington Capitals fan stood up in the stands midway through the second period and flashed a sign that simply said, "Dale."But that was about the most noise made by Capitals center Dale Hunter last night in his much anticipated return after missing 10 games with a partially torn medial collateral ligament.Hunter was used sparingly by coach Terry Murray and never really got into the flow of the game against the attacking New York Rangers, who got the only goal from Adam Graves 9 minutes, 52 seconds into the third period for a 1-0 victory.

Baseball Indians: Named Tom Candiotti special assistant to baseball operations. Hockey Panthers: Assigned G Sean Gauthier, D Peter Ratchuk, D Lance Ward, F Serge Payer, F Dave Duerden, F Rocky Thompson and F Ivan Novoseltsev to AHL Louisville. Senators: Re-signed restricted free-agent RW Andreas Dackell to multi-year contract. Stars: Assigned C Greg Leeb, D Jeff MacMillan and G Rick Tabaracci to IHL Utah.

ST. LOUIS -- Washington defenseman Al Iafrate scored two goals last night to help the Capitals defeat the St. Louis Blues, 4-3, at The Arena.The victory was the third straight for the Capitals, who are 6-1 in their past seven games.Iafrate's second goal of the game gave the Capitals a 4-2 lead at 13:56 of the third period. With Blues defenseman Rick Zombo screening the goalie, Iafrate hit a slap shot through goalie Jim Hrivnak's legs.Brendan Shanahan scored at 19:40 to cut the lead to 4-3."

For the four goalies fighting for two spots on the Washington Capitals' roster, the battle is down to the last 60 minutes.The Caps play their final preseason game tonight, and coach Jim Schoenfeld could announce his decision as early as tomorrow.Schoenfeld will choose among seasoned Don Beaupre, youthful veteran Rick Tabaracci and developing Olie Kolzig and Byron Dafoe.Against the Quebec Nordiques tonight, Tabaracci is likely to get most of the work because, having been injured, he has had the least chance to demonstrate what he can do."

QUEBEC -- Washington's two-game winning streak ended last night against the Quebec Nordiques, who used every advantage the Capitals gave them to earn a 5-3 victory.And the Capitals did give them advantages. It left team captain Kevin Hatcher unable to explain why the game plan evaporated while Washington was leading 3-2.It left starting goalie Rick Tabaracci frustrated and in disagreement with his coach over his performance."I couldn't have made those saves in the second period if I had an 'S' on my chest," he said, angrily.

At the moment, the Washington Capitals are in the familiar position of having three goaltenders, which may be one too many."But we're not going to eliminate one of our guys for convenience," said Capitals coach Jim Schoenfeld. "If someone calls and wants to make a deal, that's different. But, other than that, we're going to have to let it work itself out."If the regular season had started when it was originally scheduled, on Oct. 1 in Toronto, the Capitals would have gone into the season with veteran Don Beaupre the No. 1 goalie and Olie Kolzig, who has played 10 NHL games, No. 2.At that point, Rick Tabaracci would have been No. 3.Now, with the season opener in Hartford six days away, they are all back on equal footing, rotating in and out of scrimmages at the Piney Orchard Ice Rink, trying to make an early impression.

LANDOVER -- Asking the Washington Capitals to score three goals in the final period of a hockey game is like asking for the moon on most nights. And last night was one of those nights.Playing a poor defensive game for two periods that put them behind, 4-1, the Capitals needed a big rally. They didn't get it, and the New Jersey Devils went home with the 5-2 victory.New Jersey defenseman Scott Stevens scored his second goal of the game into an open net with 1:09 left for the final margin.It was Washington's second loss in two games, and its 10th loss to an Atlantic Division team and its 15 against Eastern Conference foes.