The Washington Capitals have traveled north to try and find their first win of the 2025-26 season. After dropping their Home Opener to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday, the Capitals are in the Big Apple to play the New York Islanders at UBS Arena.
Alex Ovechkin is also looking for his first goal of the season and will be back in the arena where he broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record last April. Ovechkin is just three goals away from becoming the first player in NHL history to record 900 career goals.
The Capitals will also get their first look at defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the first overall selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Last season, the Capitals went 2-1 against the Islanders, winning their lone game at home and splitting two on the road. The Islanders will be without forward Jonathan Drouin due to suspension, and Ilya Sorokin will man their net after taking a 4-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Puck drop for Capitals-Islanders is at 7:00 pm on Monumental Sports Network. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will have the call.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New York Islanders
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Puck is dropped. Duhaime-Dowd-Sourdif and Sandin-Roy get the start for the Capitals.
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Martin Fehervary (1). Assists: A. Ovechkin (1), J. Carlson (1). Time: 01:50
Martin Fehervary has the Capitals on the board first after cleaning up a rebound from an Alex Ovechkin shot. The Caps captain grabs his first point of the season.
The Capitals have held the Islanders to just one shot through half of the first period.
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Aliaksei Protas (1). Assists: J. Chychrun (2), T. Wilson (1). Time: 13:51
Aliaksei Protas pounces on an Islanders mistake and rifles a shot past Ilya Sorokin to double Washington’s lead.
Ryan Leonard makes a tremendous diving defensive play to take away a breakaway chance from Bo Horvat.
The Capitals will get the first power play of the game after Mathew Barzal hooks Protas.
Absolutely nothing from the good guys on the man advantage. Way too tough a time getting a clean zone entry together.
At intermission: The Capitals are up 2-0, outshot the Islanders 9-2, and out-attempted them 20-16 at five-on-five.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Brandon Duhaime gets tangled up in front of New York’s net and limps off the ice right to the visitor’s locker room.
Maxim Shabanov pulls off a beautiful spin move, but can’t beat Logan Thompson. The Capitals are under siege at the moment.
Duhaime is back on the ice and appears none the worse for wear.
Ovechkin gets a tip on a point drive, and it clanks off the crossbar behind Sorokin.
Another Capitals power play as Kyle Palmieri heads to the box for tripping Protas.
3-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Ryan Leonard (1). Assists: J. Chychrun (3), A. Protas (2). Time: 09:50
Ryan Leonard rips home his first NHL goal against an actual goalie just as the power play expires.
4-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Aliaksei Protas (2). Assists: J. Chychrun (3), A. Protas (2). Time: 15:30
Protas gets his second of the game after stripping DeAngelo of the puck and beating Sorokin on a breakaway.
Jakob Chychrun takes the Capitals’ first penalty of the game, a two-minute minor for elbowing.
4-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Anthony Duclair (2). Assists: B. Horvat (1), K. Palmieri (1). Time: 18:51
Anthony Duclair needs just seven seconds of power-play time to get the Islanders on the board.
Sorokin robs Protas of a hat-trick tally, shutting down what a 3-on-1 for the Capitals.
At intermission: The Capitals are up 4-1, outshooting the Islanders 22-15, and out-attempting them 40-33 at five-on-five.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Matt Roy takes a seat in the box for slashing early in the third.
Matthew Schaefer appears to have his first NHL goal, but the Capitals are challenging for a hand pass.
4-2 Washington Capitals
Goal: Matthew Schaefer (1). Assists: K. Palmieri (2), B. Horvat (2). Time: 04:28
The refs give it to the Islanders. Don’t know about that one.
New York can’t convert on the ensuing delay-of-game penalty.
Tom Wilson gets involved in a small net-front scuffle with Islanders captain Anders Lee.
Simon Holmstrom is down after blocking a shot. Play is blown dead after the Islanders gain possession.
Protas hits the post after a beautiful feed from John Carlson.
Capitals win 4-2! The Islanders put the pressure on with their netminder pulled, but couldn’t beat Thompson.
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