Williams scores late in OT to lift Capitals past Islanders

NEW YORK (AP) Justin Williams scored 4:16 into overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.

Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a 1:27 span early in the second period and Braden Holtby stopped 20 shots for the Capitals to get his league-leading 36th win of the season. The Capitals beat the Islanders for the third time in three meetings this season and ninth in the last 12 (9-1-2).

Washington, which leads the NHL with 88 points, won for the fifth time in six games and improved to 15-3-2 against Metropolitan Division teams.

John Tavares and Frans Nielsen scored goals and Thomas Greiss had 32 saves for the Islanders, who had won four of their previous five. New York snapped a four-game home winning streak and will play 12 of its next 14 on the road.