Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves for a second consecutive shutout and Brock Nelson collected a goal and an assist to lift the visiting New York Islanders to a 3-0 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday.
Varlamov turned aside 10 shots in the third period to preserve his 40th career shutout and second of the season. The 35-year-old Russian, who made 34 saves in a 2-0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday, was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2006 NHL Draft.
Defenseman Ryan Pulock scored 22 seconds into the game and Simon Holmstrom also tallied for the Islanders, who improved to 3-0-1 in their last four games. New York held a decisive advantage in blocked shots (22-6) and thwarted all three of Washington’s power-play opportunities.
Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield notched an assist in his return from a seven-game absence due to a lower-body injury sustained in the team’s season opener on Oct. 14.
Darcy Kuemper turned aside 18 shots for the Capitals, who saw their three-game winning streak come to a halt. Superstar captain Alex Ovechkin, Dylan Strome, rugged Tom Wilson and defenseman John Carlson each registered a minus-3 rating.
The Islanders got off to a fast start as they worked the puck from low to high before Pulock wristed a shot from the point that beat a screened Kuemper. Pulock’s goal was his first of the season.
New York doubled its advantage over 10 minutes later after converting a two-on-one rush. Hudson Fasching sent a backhanded feed that was deposited home by Holmstrom for his second goal of the season.
Nelson converted a three-on-two rush and beat Kuemper inside the near post at 11:15 of the second period. Nelson’s goal was his team-leading fifth goal of the season and second in as many games.
Washington appeared to end Varlamov’s shutout bid after deflecting a shot by defenseman Hardy Haman Aktell into the net at 9:02 of the third period. The Islanders successfully challenged Oshie interfered with Varlamov, negating the tally.
–Field Level Media
