Islanders halt skid at home by beating Capitals

Andrew Ladd and John Tavares scored less than a minute apart early in the second period as the New York Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak with a 3-1 win over the Washington Capitals at Barclays Center.

Brock Nelson scored in the first period for the Islanders, who vaulted past the idle New Jersey Devils into a tie for second place in the Metropolitan Division with the Capitals. Jaroslav Halak recorded 31 saves.

Dmitry Orlov scored in the third period for the Capitals, who had their season-high, four-game winning streak halted as they lost for the second time in the past nine games (7-2-0).

In other NHL action, defenseman Mark Barberio’s goal at 6:17 of the third period broke a scoreless tie, and the Colorado Avalanche downed the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1.

Blake Comeau added an empty-net goal with 1:29 left before Phil Kessel broke up what would have been a shutout by Avalanche goaltender Jonathan Bernier with 11.8 seconds left.

Bernier made 39 saves. Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots for the Penguins and is on a 1-2-0 stretch plus a no-decision after getting pulled following one period Saturday.

Meanwhile, Jason Spezza scored the decisive goal in the third round of a shootout as the Dallas Stars edged the New York Rangers 2-1.

The Stars, who snapped their second three-game losing streak of the season, got a goal from Julius Honka.

The Rangers’ Rick Nash forced overtime by scoring his eighth goal of the season on a deflection with 3:41 remaining in regulation.

Elsewhere, Mike Matheson scored 2:02 into overtime as the Florida Panthers rallied past the Detroit Red Wings 2-1.

After Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard sprawled to make a save on Nick Bjugstad, Matheson pounded a rebound into the net for his first goal of the season.

Vincent Trocheck also scored for the Panthers, while Henrik Zetterberg had the Red Wings’ goal.

Also, Logan Shaw had a goal and an assist, and John Gibson recorded 28 saves as the Anaheim Ducks defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2.

The Ducks celebrated the return of Ryan Getzlaf to the lineup after the captain missed 19 games due to facial fractures. However, Anaheim’s Corey Perry left in the first period with an apparent knee injury.

Derek Grant and Jakob Silfverberg also scored for the Ducks. Justin Williams and Victor Rask had the goals for the Hurricanes, who went winless on their three-game California road trip, though they took both the San Jose Sharks and the Los Angeles ,JOHT UP PWFSUJNF