NHL Wrap: Islanders shut out Capitals

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WASHINGTON -- Andrew McDonald scored early in the third period, Evgeni Nabokov made 22 saves for his 57th career shutout and the New York Islanders broke a five-game losing streak Tuesday night with a 1-0 win over the Washington Capitals.

McDonald's slap shot from the point went past screened goalie Michal Neuvirth and just under the crossbar with 17:44 to play. The Islanders scored only one goal for the third straight game -- but at least this time it was enough to win.

Nabokov, making his third start since returning from a groin injury, posted his second shutout of the season and is 19th on the NHL list.

Neuvirth stopped 27 shots for the Capitals, who have lost 10 of 13 to tumble toward the bottom of the Metropolitan Division, only seven points ahead of the last-place Islanders. Washington has been shut out four times this season (see full recap).

Rangers blast Avalanche
NEW YORK -- Rangers captain Ryan Callahan shook off trade talk and scored two first-period goals to lead New York to its fourth straight win, 5-1 over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night.

With Callahan's future with the Rangers unsettled just before he heads to the Sochi Olympics, Callahan staked New York to a 2-0 lead with goals 3:19 apart. Defenseman Anton Stralman added his first of the season in the second period, and Derick Brassard and Brad Richards scored in the third -- with an assist from Callahan -- in the Rangers' 10th win in 13 games.

After Callahan was stopped with a chance at a hat trick, Brassard made it 4-1 at 1:58. Richards finished the scoring with 1:36 left.

Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves for his 297th win, four shy of Mike Richter's club record (see full recap).

Senators top Blues in shootout
ST. LOUIS -- Kyle Turris scored the deciding goal in the fifth round of the shootout to go with one in regulation, and the Ottawa Senators beat the St. Louis Blues 5-4 on Tuesday night.

T.J. Oshie had a goal and an assist and scored to open the shootout for the Blues, who lost at home to an Eastern Conference opponent for the first time in 10 games this season. St. Louis had a season-high 50 shots but squandered a two-goal cushion in the third period and missed two chances to close it out in the shootout.

Jason Spezza had his third three-point game of the season and capped a three-goal flurry in a span of 2:35 that gave Ottawa a 4-3 lead midway through the third period. Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist to give him 53 points, best among NHL defensemen (see full recap).

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