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      NYI@WSH: Ovechkin passes Esposito with 718th NHL goal

      WASHINGTON --Alex Ovechkin scored his 718th goal to move into sixth in NHL history, and the Washington Capitals ended the New York Islanders' nine-game winning streak with a 3-1 victory at Capital One Arena on Tuesday.

      Semyon Varlamov made 19 saves for the Islanders (19-7-4), who had a 12-game point streak end (11-1-1). It was their first regulation loss since Feb. 20, a 3-2 defeat at the Pittsburgh Penguins.
      "We're not really going to change our mentality," New York forward Josh Bailey said. "Get ready for the next one (at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday) and just focus on that."
      Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist for the Capitals (19-6-4), who have won six in a row. Ilya Samsonov made 21 saves.
      "The first 20 minutes we relied too much on our goaltender, [but] the last 40 we were really good," Washington coach Peter Laviolette said. "The second period I thought we were excellent, and we kept battling away in the third.
      "It was a tough stretch of [three] games [in five days] on the road, and to come home for the one back to back at home here was challenging, [but] I thought our guys responded really good."
      Islanders center Mathew Barzal was benched for part of the third period after his cross-checking penalty in the second resulted in Ovechkin's power-play goal.
      "He's leading our team in penalties right now," New York coach Barry Trotz said. "'Barzy' should not lead our team [in penalties]. I didn't like the penalty and I didn't like the shift after that. I thought the response was, 'Well I've got to be dynamite and see if I can get this tied up.' … Yeah, it absolutely was a message. He's got to fight through all that stuff."

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          NYI@WSH: Ovechkin hits 1,300 points on Oshie's goal

          T.J. Oshie gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead on a 3-on-1 at 10:36 of the second period. Evgeny Kuznetsov deked around Varlamov, but his shot hit the far post and Oshie was there for a tap-in.
          Ovechkin scored for a fourth straight game and passed Phil Esposito on the NHL goals list with a one-timer from the left circle for a power-play goal to make it 2-0 at 15:24.
          "It doesn't matter which -- one-timer, wrist shot, redirect -- a goal is a goal," Ovechkin said. "It's always a nice feeling to get it. … Great job by 'Nicky' and [Justin Schultz] to move the puck past, and for me I just have to hit the net. Finally."
          Trotz, who coached Ovechkin for four seasons (2014-2018), was asked if it was appropriate that he was in the building for the goal. They won the Stanley Cup together with the Capitals in 2018.
          "I don't know if it's fitting," Trotz said. "I wish I was not here, put it that way. I do recognize his greatness and the milestones. I cheer for him, no question. Just not when he plays against us."

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              NYI@WSH: Backstrom nets Vrana feed in front for PPG

              Backstrom made it 3-0 when he redirected a pass from Jakub Vrana for a power-play goal 28 seconds into the third period. Washington was 2-for-4 with the man-advantage.
              "Just quickly as we were heading out to the ice, we just mentioned how big it would be to that power play to be ready to execute right off the bat, and that was really quick, really well done, and it was important," Laviolette said. "At 2-0, that next goal, I feel like in a two-goal game that next goal is always a big goal and for it to go our way was important."
              Oliver Wahlstrom scored on a wrist shot from the slot for a power-play goal at 4:17 for the 3-1 final. It was Wahlstrom's second goal in the past three games.
              "Samsonov played a really good game," Wahlstrom said. "You can see he's really good at his angles and he's a big goalie, so it was tough to get one by him today. He played a really good game."
              NOTES: Ovechkin also had an assist and became the 35th player in NHL history to score 1,300 points; he has 1,301 in 1,177 games and trails Marcel Dionne by 13 goals for fifth on the all-time list (731). … The Islanders are 0-3-0 against the Capitals this season. Each game has been played at Washington.

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                  Ovechkin passes Esposito in Capitals' 3-1 victory