The Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-2 on Tuesday night at Barclays Center. The win raised the Capitals record to 18-7-3. The Capitals next travel to Raleigh to take on the Hurricanes on Friday night. Puck drop is 7:30PM. 

Andre Burakovsky was a healthy scratch for this game. After starting the season with 2 goals on opening night, Burakovsky has gone 26 consecutive games without a goal. Taylor Chorney was the other scratch. Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals. Jaroslav Halak got the start for the Islanders. The Capitals lines for tonight’s matchup:

#Caps lines: 90-19-77, 8-92-14, 10-20-13, 26-83-43. Defense: 27-74, 9-2, 44-88. Scratches: 4, 65. Holtby vs Halak #CapsIsles

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 13, 2016

QUICK TAKES

• The Capitals did not hold a morning skate on Tuesday.
• The third line (Connolly-Eller-Vrana) worked well in this game.
• The Capitals power play continues to produce. Jakub Vrana added a power play goal in the second period.
• Braden Holtby had a good game, and was extra strong in the third period.
• Matt Niskanen had a good game, with two goals late to seal the victory for the Capitals.

FIRST PERIOD
A feisty first 10 minutes to start the game, with plenty of good hits, as one would expect. Casey Cizikas would leave the game just two minutes into the game when he was cut on the wrist by a skate. The game would be halted to allow Cizikas to cross the rink for emergency stitching. Cizikas would return to the game with 7 minutes left in the period.

The Islanders would open the scoring at 9:32 when the Caps turned the puck over in their offensive zone, giving Brock Nelson a break away and open, close range shot from the top of the right circle, beating Braden Holtby glove-side high for the tally.

The Capitals would receive the game’s first power play at 12:17 when the Islanders Cal Clutterbuck was called for slashing, but the Caps were unable to muster much in the way of chances. Nicklas Backstrom was called for tripping at 15:49 giving the Islanders their first power play of the game, but the Caps would stifle the Islanders man advantage. The period would end with the Islanders leading 1-0. The Caps led 14-12 in shots on goal for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would tie the game early in the middle frame on a nifty pass from Lars Eller to Brett Connolly for the finish at the 2:09 mark. Jakub Vrana would get an assist, his first of his NHL career.

Connolly back in the lineup and on the score sheet. #Caps tie it up early in the 2nd. #CapsIsles on @CSNMA. #RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/2ThKDfnIwt

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2016

The Capitals returned to the power play at the 6:08 mark when Jason Chimera was called for high sticking. Justin Williams would cash in on the end of a feed from Evgeny Kuznetsov to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 7:37 of the second period.

This kid can score. Vrana nets another. #Caps lead 2-1 in the 2nd. #CapsIsles on @CSNMA. #RockTheRedpic.twitter.com/F5CJnBNW8a

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2016

The Islanders would tie the game on a long range blast by Nick Leddy, tipped in by Nikolay Kulemin at 10:41 of the middle frame.

The period ended with the game tied 2-2. The Capitals outshot the Islanders 9-4 for the second period, 23-16 through the first two periods.

THIRD PERIOD
Matt Niskanen would give the Capitals the lead just 1:34 into the final frame on a blast from the right dot.

The Nisk-Wrist-Cannon gives the #Caps a 3-2 lead. What a dart! #CapsIsles on @CSNMA. #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/pP4DkFGq8t

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2016

This was the 5th goal of the season for the Washington blueliners. Matt Niskanen would add another goal late, this time on a power play goal at the 18:02 mark of the final frame.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM BROOKLYN

#RockTheRed behind enemy lines. #CapsIsles pic.twitter.com/hddZdcLYz5

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 13, 2016

Wankers #capssuck #caps #capitalstalk #capstalk pic.twitter.com/VwGzYsXS20

— isles fan- send help (@Smitty329) December 14, 2016

#CapsIsles pic.twitter.com/QkrdywQ5wB

— Andrew White (@AJWht8) December 14, 2016

Those poor @NYIslanders fans in section 117. @NYCCapsCrew #CapsIsles #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/5JCAOC66ez

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2016

#CapsIsles #Holtbeast pic.twitter.com/rMmlGcUie2

— Andrew White (@AJWht8) December 14, 2016

FIST BUMPS 👊 FTW! #CapsIsles #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/3FjwxmApuV

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 14, 2016

#CapsIsles pic.twitter.com/PVM0a9thTY

— Andrew White (@AJWht8) December 14, 2016