#CapsIsles Postgame Notebook: Streaks Stopped

Washington had a pair of four-game winning streaks snapped on Monday night in Brooklyn at the hands of the New York Islanders. The Caps carried a four-game winning streak into Monday's game, and the 3-1 loss they suffered to New York obviously put the brakes on that winning run.

But the Caps had also won four straight games against Metropolitan Division opponents, and that streak also went by the boards on Monday against the Isles.

New York, on the other hand, returned home after a rugged four-game road trip (1-2-1), and it earned its first win in six games. The Isles own the league's best home ice record at 9-1-2, but they've also played the fewest home games of any NHL team.

"It was a bit of a frustrating game tonight," says Washington winger Tom Wilson. "There wasn't a lot of room. [The Islanders] played well. We weren't executing any passes, so that's why it was a bit ineffective."

Getting It Done Early - New York did its goal shopping early this holiday season, well, it did so on Monday night, anyway. The Isles took a one-goal lead at 2:36 of the first when Brock Nelson put back the rebound of a Cal Clutterbuck shot, a goal on which ex-Caps winger Jason Chimera earned the second assist.

Just 36 seconds into the second period, the Isles doubled that advantage when Calvin de Haan issued a splendid back door setup for Andrew Ladd. That would turn out to be all the offense the Islanders would require on this night, but New York captain John Tavares netted his 18th goal of the season just 58 seconds after the Ladd strike.

It was at that point of the game that Washington coach Barry Trotz made a goaltending change, inserting Philipp Grubauer into the crease after Braden Holtby was nicked for three goals on a dozen shots.

Bottom Six - Washington has scored a total of five goals in its two games against the Islanders this season, and none of that production has come from the Capitals' top six forwards.

When the Caps eked out a 4-3 win over the Isles in Washington on Nov. 2, all four Caps goals came from its bottom six. In Monday's 3-1 loss to the Islanders, the Caps' lone goal came from its fourth line, with defenseman Dmitry Orlov eventually lighting the lamp.

Killing It - Going into Monday night's contest, the Islanders were struggling mightily with their penalty kill. New York had surrendered at least one power-play goal in each of its seven previous games, and it had done so in nine of 10 contests. The Isles were reached for multiple power-play goals in five of those 10 games.

New York ended that streak on Monday, keeping the Caps' power play unit off the board. The Isles were disciplined against Washington, taking only two minor penalties, and both were taken while New York was enjoying a three-goal lead.

Score-lov - Orlov's goal is his third of the season, making him the leader in goals among all Washington defensemen this season. Orlov's single-season career best is the eight goals he scored in 2015-16.

Tavares Trouble - When Tavares entered the NHL as a teenaged rookie in 2009-10, the league was a 30-team circuit. In each of the first seven games in which Washington went up against him, the Caps kept Tavares from lighting the lamp.

By the time he finally scored his first goal against Washington early in his third season in the league, Tavares had already scored at least once against each of the Islanders' other 28 opponents.

Tavares netted his first goal against Washington early in his third season in the league, on Nov. 5, 2011 in a 5-3 New York victory over the Capitals at the old Nassau Coliseum. That first goal against Washington was an empty-netter for Tavares; it came with 61 seconds left and with a solo assist from Isles goalie Rick DiPietro.

But since he found the range against the Caps for the first time, Tavares has made a habit of it. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Tavares has now scored 14 goals in his last 25 games against Washington, starting with that empty-netter just over six years ago.

By The Numbers - John Carlson led the Caps with 23:32 in ice time … Alex Ovechkin led Washington with six shots on net and 11 shot attempts … Tom Wilson led the Capitals with six hits on the night … Brooks Orpik and Devante Smith-Pelly each had two blocked shots to lead the Caps … Jay Beagle won seven of 10 draws (70%) … Only six different Capitals and only four different Islanders took face-offs in Monday's game.