The Islanders lost in heartbreaking fashion as Washington’s Justin Schultz netted the game-winner with only 26 seconds remaining.

“I just felt we had one line tonight,” said Islanders head coach Barry Trotz. “We’re gonna shake it up, put some new people in, and go from there.”

Semyon Varlamov and Vitek Vanecek were in between the pipes for the first of eight matchups between Washington and New York. Varlamov, coming into the night with a .033 goals-against average, has had shutouts in two of his first three starts this season. Vanecek, the Caps third-string goaltender this offseason, got the nod after Ilya Samsonov was sidelined due to COVID-19 protocol.

Other notable absences for the Capitals were Alex Ovechkin, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Dmitry Orlov, who were also forced to sit for the same reason, and Tom Wilson and Connor McMichael, who missed the game due to injuries. On the Isles’ side, Anthony Beauvillier was unable to play due to being considered day-to-day lower-body injury and was placed on the IR prior to the game.

First Period

The Islanders were slow out of the gate, being outshot 7-1 early in the first period. Varlamov came up big, shutting down Capitals forward Richard Panik at the doorstep to keep it a scoreless contest. Adam Pelech was helped into the locker room with an apparent injury, but fans began to exhale as returned to the ice for his next shift.

Washington went up 1-0 on the power-play after Matt Martin was called for tripping in the offensive zone. John Carlson buried home the rebound in Alex Ovechkin’s left-side office, whom he replaced on the first power-play unit due to Ovechkin’s absence.

Noah Dobson tied the game off of a shot from the point at 15:33 of the first. The Islanders went to the locker room deadlocked at one with Washington up 17-11 in shots.

Things you love to see = THIS. pic.twitter.com/NqwtYOvzz4

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) January 27, 2021

Second Period

New York came away with just one goal in the second period, ringing two shots off the post and failing to convert on three power-plays. Their lone tally came on a beautiful backhander from Mat Barzal, who retrieved the puck on a turnover from former Bruin and Islander, Zdeno Chara.

The Capitals got one back with 2:39 remaining in the frame when Daniel Sprong surprised Varlamov with a quick bar down shot from the point.

Third Period

Leo Komarov slammed Lars Eller against the boards and was called for a five-minute major after a quick review by the referees. The Islanders held tight and were able to fend off an extended Washington power-play. The best chance for either team in this special teams situation arguably came on a shorthanded two-on-one between Brock Nelson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

With just 26 seconds remaining in the final frame, the Islanders were defeated when Justin Schultz snuck the game-winner wrister past Varlamov to give the Capitals a 3-2 victory.

REGULATION HERO JUSTIN SCHULTZ! pic.twitter.com/qiAiFhjxcS

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 27, 2021

“I’m not quite sure we’re in our playoff mentality right now which is really pissing me off,” Trotz said.

The Islanders will look for revenge against Washington on Thursday at 7 p.m. EST in the backend of their two-game series.

John Smark