“Winning, you’re always happy. But we’re not satisfied with where our game is at and we’ll be better.”

No one says it better than the game-winner himself, Brooks Laich – and we all know it’s true. There are parts of this win that still feel a bit hollow as the Caps continue to put in less than stellar efforts against a weaker opponent.

Still, it’s just a little over 12 hours after this one is in the books and I’ve already seen a number of people bemoaning this win, claiming there were no two points less deserved by the Caps than these two. Maybe for part of the game that’s true – the Caps slogged through a first period that saw them fall behind on a shorthanded goal (their second in two games) and looked disinterested at best. But they woke up as the game went on and by the end seemed to want it just as much as the Islanders.

No, it’s not the model of a perfect game and it’s certainly not what we want to see out of these guys as the season progresses. But to say they didn’t earn these two points, particularly in the last 25 minutes, is to ignore a pretty decent comeback effort on the Island.

Other thoughts:

- First of all, credit where credit is due – the Islanders gave the Caps a hell of a fight. They’re really no longer a boring team to watch but a young, exciting, hard-working group that makes up for a lack of star talent by coming to the rink ready to play regardless of their opponent.

- Nice to see Brooks Laich getting back on the scoresheet, and in an essentially Brooks Laich fashion – by going to the front of the net. His fourth of the season was the perfect tip-in on a great Mike Green saucer pass. Hey, if you want bread, go to the bakery…

- Just as Varlamov has yet to steal the #1 spot from Theodore, Theodore has yet to give any huge signs that he’s ready to have it stolen. His performance tonight, like so many of his games already this year, was exactly what the Caps needed it to be – and finally they gave him a win for his efforts. A well-deserved hard hat recipient for sure.

- Two shots for #8 last night; the last time Alex Ovechkin was held to two shots or less in a regular season game was back on February 3 against the Devils. It was the same number of shots that Poti, Bradley and Steckel each had for the Caps – and Jon Sim and Brendan Witt for the Islanders.

- Two of the five goal scorers last night, Keith Aucoin and Jeff Tambellini, had less than 9 minutes of ice time apiece.

- The power play was horrible again, going 0-for-4 and giving up a second straight shorthanded goal. It did seem to get better as the game went on, however, and on the last attempt – when Nate Thompson was sent to the box for kneeing Mike Green – the whole group seemed reinvigorated. Thanks, Nate.

- How about that game of “Wheel O’Wingers” Boudreau was playing last night? Highly entertaining if nothing else. And quick, raise your hand if you had Ovechkin-Steckel-Aucoin as your goal-scoring combo when all was said and done.

- So we got our first look at young Mr. Tavares last night, and overall he looked okay – but certainly not the explosive, game-breaking kind of talent we’ve been accustomed to seeing out of #1 picks in the last few years. Yet. Ovechkin, Crosby, Kane, your legacies are safe for now.

- Considering these teams haven’t played each other yet this season and haven’t seen one another since April 1, this was a pretty chippy affair. And it seemed like Nate Thompson, Tim Jackman and Andy Sutton were pretty central to just about every post-whistle scrum. Nice to see Ovechkin get a few punches in on one of those – but that’s enough fighting for you, Ovie.

- Speaking of #8 and fighting…this is the first and last thing I’ll say about the gruesome twosome of Milbury and Cherry, who both spoke out against Ovechkin last night. We get it, you don’t like him. You’re welcome to your opinion, and I’m sure Crosby thanks you for your support. But Ovechkin’s been in the league for 5 years now, and all this talk of “someone’s going to get him for the way he plays” gets a little old when people have had plenty of time to do it and haven’t. Tell you something, morons?

- So often it’s Ovechkin who takes over in a game and decides that the Caps are simply not losing; last night it seemed to be Mike Green who made that decision, particularly after getting taken out by Thompson about halfway through the game. Both his goal and the rush up ice that led to the OT winner were classic Mike Green – nice to have you back, Mike.

So the Caps take the Islanders – or rather the Islanders take the Caps – to overtime for the fourth straight game, and for the third straight game the Caps emerge victorious. These games are practically scripted now, and while it’s exciting and a credit to the way the Islanders are playing, it’s certainly not a credit to the way the Caps are approaching them.

If this game started the way it ended, the final score wouldn’t have been anywhere close and those two points would have felt a little better – and don’t think there’s not a man in the room who doesn’t know it. Boudreau’s got to get them back to where we know they can be, and do it fast. The big, bad Flyers come to town Tuesday night.