Islanders 2 - 3 Capitals
Final - 2OT
  for this game

Kuznetsov lifts Capitals over Islanders in SO

Feb 21, 2015 - 10:37 PM Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) - Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in the first round of the shootout to lift the Washington Capitals over the New York Islanders, 3-2, on Saturday.

Braden Holtby stopped Frans Nielsen, John Tavares and Ryan Strome in the shootout for the Capitals, who have won four in a row for the first time this season. Holtby made 30 saves.

Matt Niskanen and Eric Fehr scored in regulation for Washington, which sits four points behind the first-place Islanders in the Metropolitan Division.

"That would have hurt tonight if we didn't get two [points] out of that," said Niskanen. "It was good that the guys could bear down in the shootout and Holts [Holtby] was outstanding. We played well and it's always nice to win that first one of the back to back."

Strome and Travis Hamonic lit the lamp for New York, which got 25 saves from Chad Johnson.

Strome forced overtime by scoring with 47.8 seconds left in regulation and Johnson pulled for an extra skater. A rebound went to Strome, who scored from a sharp angle.

Washington outshot New York by a 6-1 margin in the extra session.

"It was hard to really generate anything on Holtby," said Johnson. "It was a tough game. [There were] low shots for awhile there. We're definitely, I think, happy with getting a point but I think when you get in the shootout you want to get the extra point there. It just didn't work out this time."

Hamonic's fourth goal of the season gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 7:41 into the first period. His shot from the left circle got past Holtby.

Washington tied things up at 19:19 as Niskanen's one-timer from the right circle beat Johnson.

Fehr gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 14:26 of the third when he beat Johnson with a shot from the left circle.

Game Notes

Tavares was held without a goal for the first time in five games ... Fehr played in his 400th game with the Capitals.






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