Tougher competition will punish mistakes.
And that explains the end of the Islanders’ nine-game winning streak and 11-0-1 run, plus their solo hold on first place in the East Division.
The Capitals went 2-for-4 on the power play and won their sixth straight, 3-1, on Tuesday night as the Islanders concluded a three-game road trip. Alex Ovechkin scored his 718th goal, surpassing Phil Esposito for sixth place on the NHL’s all-time list.
Both teams now have 42 points but the Capitals have played one fewer game. The Islanders had been 16-2-4 since losing a two-game series in Washington on Jan.