Tabaracci

Opponent: Hartford WhalersSite: USAir Arena, LandoverTime: 1:30 p.m.Radio: WMAL (630 AM)Outlook: The Capitals, 9-1-2 in their past 12 games, play their second game in two days this afternoon. The Hartford Whalers have won two straight, including yesterday's 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders, since being shut out by Washington March 20. Caps D Calle Johansson (flu) is day-to-day. C Dave Poulin (groin), C Pat Peake (flu and mononucleosis) and G Rick Tabaracci (back) are out. Poulin will undergo an MRI exam tomorrow.

UNIONDALE, N.Y. -- The New York Islanders' Brian Mullen may know how to ruin a good party, but he's not into stirring up a load of mischief.Mullen was credited with the goal in the second overtime that ended Game 2 on Tuesday, 5-4, and tied the NHL Patrick Division semifinal series at one. But afterward all he'd say was, "We got the break, they didn't."He might have said something about Washington's lack of offense beyond its ninth-leading scorer Dale Hunter. He might have wondered about the absence of Michal Pivonka and Peter Bondra from the score sheets in games 1 and 2.So far Hunter, who had 20 goals in the regular season, has five of Washington's seven goals.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals had been searching for a way out of a goal-scoring nightmare and last night they found one.A short-handed goal by Dave Poulin, an even-strength strike by Kelly Miller, a power-play goal by Calle Johansson and a solid performance by goalie Rick Tabaracci produced a 3-2 victory over the Florida Panthers.Poulin, with an assist from Tabaracci, gave Washington an early lead. After Florida had taken a 2-1 lead, Poulin blasted a shot from inside the blue line that Miller was able to put away, setting up Johansson's game-winner.

LANDOVER -- Beforehand, veteran center Dale Hunter said the three most important aspects of this game with the New York Islanders would be sticking to the game plan, patience and execution.Last night, in Game 1 of this best-of-seven NHL Patrick Division playoff series, Hunter followed his direction to perfection. His two goals in the third period made the difference for Washington, which emerged with a 3-1 victory.The win gives Washington a 1-0 lead in the series and its first home-ice victory against the Islanders in four tries this season.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals didn't want to rush into anything last night. They rushed headlong toward the offensive end against the New York Islanders on Tuesday and suffered relentless counterattacks.Last night against the Stanley Cup champion Montreal Canadiens, they tried to play responsibly, and, though it didn't get them a victory, it did get them a 2-2 come-from-behind tie.Rookie Pat Peake assisted on Washington's first goal, by Dave Poulin in the second period, and tied it with a goal 7:31 into the third.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals used two third-period goals by Peter Bondra to overcome a 2-1 deficit and go on to beat the Vancouver Canucks, 3-2, last night at USAir Arena.The victory keeps the Capitals' winning streak alive at four games. And now, three weeks after starting 0-6, Washington is 7-7, .500 for the first time this season and one of the hottest teams in the NHL."We all had a bad start and now we're all playing good," said Bondra, who collected his fifth and sixth goals of the season.

LANDOVER -- The Washington Capitals lost on their home ice last night to the third-worst team in the NHL.The Hartford Whalers blitzed the Caps, 6-1, behind a hat trick by Pat Verbeek, while chasing Washington's starting goalie, Rick Tabaracci, to the bench in the second period.By then, the game was out of hand, with the Whalers ahead 5-0 and the smallest crowd of the season at USAir Arena, 8,871, voicing its unhappiness."I think there are success habits you have to develop at some point," said Capitals coach Terry Murray.

The hard, worry lines that had creased Don Beaupre's face during the early part of this season are gone. He will start in goal for the Washington Capitals for the fifth straight game tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers and he will start knowing his coach is more than happy with his play."