Dylan Strome’s first career hat trick as a Washington Capital, paired with a stellar performance from goaltender Charlie Lindgren, propelled the Capitals to a 3-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. The win showcased Washington’s balanced team effort despite missing key defensemen, marking significant milestones for both Strome and Lindgren.
Strome’s three goals brought his season total to a career-high 29, pushing him past 80 points, a feat not accomplished by a non-drafted Capital since Adam Oates in 2000-01, per NHL.com. Lindgren’s 20th win of the season made him the second Capitals goaltender to reach that mark this year, alongside Logan Thompson’s 31 wins, a first in franchise history, according to the team’s records.
The Capitals played without defensemen John Carlson and Jakob Chychrun, who sat out for maintenance, but delivered a cohesive performance. “I thought it had a lot of similarities to the Columbus game,” said coach Spencer Carbery, referencing a recent 4-1 loss where the team played well. “Our 5-on-5 game early in the game, good road [game], and got all the lines involved. But it was just a solid, solid 60 minutes from our group.”
Washington struck first on a power play at 8:15 of the opening period. Strome’s shot from the point deflected off Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock past goaltender Ilya Sorokin. Strome added his second at 7:52 of the second period, converting a precise pass from Alex Ovechkin behind the net. Lindgren faced a flurry of shots late in the second, stopping seven in 45 seconds, including close-range attempts. “For a while there, there wasn’t a ton of shots,” Lindgren said. “And then there was a flurry there in the second. Sometimes those are good though; it gets you into the game.”
The Islanders cut the lead to 2-1 with 8:24 remaining when Hudson Fasching’s shot deflected past Lindgren. After New York pulled Sorokin for an extra attacker, Lindgren made crucial late saves, and Tom Wilson set up Strome’s empty-net goal with 1:11 left, completing the hat trick. “It’s nice,” Strome said of his milestones. “It’s a lot of great players I get to play with. I’ve been playing with [Ovechkin] most of the season, and obviously the season that [Aliaksei Protas] has had.”
Defensemen Alex Alexeyev and Dylan McIlrath filled in admirably for Carlson and Chychrun, earning praise for their steady play. “I want to harp on just the guys in front of me and how well they did tonight,” Lindgren said. “Alexeyev and McIlrath, those guys are warriors for what they’ve done all year long, putting the work in, in the dark when no one else is watching.”
The game ended with a respectful gesture as the Capitals stayed on the ice to shake hands with Islanders veteran Matt Martin, potentially in his final home game. Martin, playing his 986th NHL game, was named the game’s top star by local media and celebrated by fans, per Newsday.
The Capitals’ disciplined performance, bolstered by Strome’s offensive output and Lindgren’s reliability, underscores their depth as the season progresses. The team’s ability to adapt without key players highlights their resilience in a competitive Eastern Conference, as noted in a recent ESPN analysis.
