Varlamov gets 2nd straight shutout, Islanders top Capitals 

WASHINGTON – Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves for his second straight shutout in the New York Islanders’ 3-0 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

Varlamov made 34 saves in a 2-0 win at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday.

"I'm pretty happy,” Varlamov said. “I can't believe it. I'm feeling good in the net right now. I've only played three games. It's just the beginning. It's a long, long season. I just have to continue to play well, and then every time I have a chance to play, I try to play my best and give a chance to our team to win a hockey game."

Brock Nelson had a goal and an assist for the Islanders (5-2-2), who are 3-0-1 in their past four games.

"We weren't great, for sure. It was kind of sloppy,” said defenseman Ryan Pulock, who scored New York’s first goal. “The important thing is we kind of stuck with it. ... Sometimes nights are going to be a little ugly, and you've got to find a way to get the job done, and I thought tonight was kind of one of those nights."

Darcy Kuemper made 18 saves for the Capitals (4-4-1), who had won three in a row.

“We’ll look at a lot of the positive things we did to create from a forecheck standpoint, [offensive]-zone movement standpoint,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “And then [we'll] get back to work on the same thing that’s plagued us through nine games of just being able to finish on those opportunities, create more havoc, make it more difficult on goaltenders.”

The Capitals played their first game since center Nicklas Backstrom announced Wednesday that he was taking time away from hockey because of what he called “my ongoing injury situation” with his left hip.

Washington appeared to pull within 3-1 at 9:02 of the third period when Hardy Haman Aktell’s shot from the high slot deflected in off T.J. Oshie for what would have been his first goal of the season. The Islanders challenged the play, and a video review determined Oshie interfered with Varlamov.

“If a couple of those [shots] go post and in and [that goal] doesn't get disallowed, maybe we're feeling a little different here and we're really happy about our 60 (minutes),” Oshie said. “So, we’re close. We're close and I think that's a positive moving forward.”

Pulock gave the Islanders a 1-0 lead 22 seconds into the first period when he received a pass from Nelson and scored on a wrist shot through a screen from the right point.

“Just made a shot,” Pulock said. “Good traffic in front. Early in the game like that, to get a lead early obviously helps. It gives you a chance to settle in a little bit. I thought it was a big goal.”

Simon Holmstrom made it 2-0 at 10:41 when he eluded defenseman John Carlson at the blue line, worked a give-and-go with Hudson Fasching and scored on a one-timer from the slot.

The Islanders had two shots on goal in the first period, scoring on each.

Nelson increased the lead to 3-0 at 11:15 of the second period, taking a pass from Pierre Engvall on the rush and scoring five-hole from the bottom of the left circle.

NOTES: Varlamov became the third goalie this season with two shutouts, Jonas Johansson (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Tristan Jarry (Pittsburgh Penguins). … New York defenseman Adam Pelech left the game in the first period after colliding with Capitals forward Aliaksei Protas. Islanders coach Lane Lambert did not have an update after the game. … New York defenseman Scott Mayfield played 21:21 and had an assist in his return after missing seven games because of a lower-body injury. … Alex Ovechkin's six-game point streak (two goals, six assists) ended. … Washington has killed off eight straight power-play opportunities over its past three games.