Capitals 3, Islanders 2 (OT): Evgeny Kuznetsov scored the lone goal of the shootout in the first round and Braden Holtby made 30 saves as host Washington skated to its season-high fourth straight victory.

Kuznetsov skated in and wristed a shot past Chad Johnson (25 saves) to open the bonus format before Holtby went to work to handcuff New York. Frans Nielsen's backhand shot sailed wide of the net in the first round before Holtby denied captain John Tavares' bid and sealed the win by stopping Ryan Strome's backhanded attempt.

Eric Fehr and defenseman Matt Niskanen tallied for the Capitals, who have won eight of their last 10 to move within four points of Metropolitan Division-leading New York. Nicklas Backstrom and blue-liner Karl Alzner each notched an assist on Niskanen's first goal since Dec. 9 and Brooks Laich also set up a tally.

Strome cleaned up a rebound with 48 seconds remaining in the third period to forge a 2-2 tie. Defenseman Travis Hamonic scored his first goal in 32 contests and Tavares notched a pair of assists to extend his point streak to five games for the Islanders, who fell for just the second time in eight contests and dropped to 19-3-1 against Metropolitan Division rivals.

New York scored first for the sixth straight contest as Hamonic jumped into a rush and wired a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle past Holtby at 7:41 of the first period. Niskanen answered with 41 seconds left in the session, burying a blast from the right circle, and the game remained tied until Fehr converted Laich's feed to cap a 3-on-2 rush with 5:34 remaining in the third and give Washington a 2-1 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tavares has collected five tallies and six assists during his point streak. ... Washington's Alex Ovechkin was held off the scoresheet, putting an end to his six-game point streak. The captain recorded six goals and five assists during the run. ... Hamonic's goal was the first allowed by Holtby in the opening session in his last 11 games. The tally also was the defenseman's first since a 3-2 overtime win over the Capitals on Nov. 26.