Playing without injured captain Alex Ovechkin, the Capitals missed an opportunity to move up in the standings with a 4-1 loss to the Islanders on Tuesday.
WASHINGTON — Playing without injured captain Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals missed an opportunity to move up in the standings with a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.
Washington failed to pass rival Pittsburgh for third place in the Metropolitan Division after the Penguins lost at home to Edmonton, but the Caps still have two more chances before the end of the regular season. Taking care of business against the Islanders would have put the Capitals in position to wrap up third in the Metro when these teams face off again Thursday on Long Island. Now, it’ll come down to Friday to see whether Washington can avoid Eastern Conference-leading Florida and a more difficult path through the Atlantic Division side of the bracket.On the way to a second tough loss in a row, the Capitals got a bit of a scare when winger T.J.