NEW YORK (AP) — Adam Pelech scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period, and the New York Islanders beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Tuesday night.
Simon Holmstrom also scored for the Islanders and David Rittich stopped 28 shots as New York snapped a three-game skid before the NHL enters its three-day holiday break.
Brett Pesce scored for New Jersey in its second straight loss. Jacob Markstrom had 23 saves.
Islanders captain Anders Lee made a cross-ice pass to set up Holmstrom for a one-timer that went wide, and Pelech scored on the rebound with 1:15 remaining.
Holmstrom tied the score with 7:50 left in the second period after capitalizing on a miscue by Markstrom. The Devils' goaltender left the crease to play the puck in the corner, but a miscommunication with Jonas Siegenthaler allowed the puck to squirt free, and Holmstrom scored into the open net.
Pesce opened the scoring with less than five minutes remaining in the first period with his first goal of the season in his 13th game.
Rittich made a key save on a breakaway by Jack Hughes midway through the second period, preventing New Jersey from extending its lead.
Devils: Host Washington on Saturday.
Islanders: Host the New York Rangers on Saturday.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL
New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) makes a glove-save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Utah Mammoth, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)
New York Islanders goaltender David Rittich (33) defends the goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against Anaheim Ducks, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Taylor Raddysh and Alexis Lafreniere scored 66 seconds apart, part of a five-goal third period for the New York Rangers in a 7-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Tuesday night.
Raddysh scored twice against his former team, and Vincent Trocheck also had two goals. Will Cuylle and Artemi Panarin also scored for New York, which is 14-6-1 on the road this season and 5-10-3 at home.
John Carlson, Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas scored for the Capitals, who are 1-4-2 in their last seven games.
After the Rangers trailed 3-2 entering the third, Raddysh tied it when his backhand effort in close ended up behind goalie Logan Thompson with 11:50 to play. Just over a minute later, Panarin's shot from near the blue line deflected in off Lafreniere.
Trocheck made it 5-3 with 6:17 left, and Panarin added a goal into an empty net. Then with the goalie back in, Trocheck scored another.
Raddysh, who scored seven goals for the Capitals last season, received a message on the video board welcoming him back, then opened the scoring later in the first period. It was 1-all in the second when Strome scored after Igor Shesterkin nearly robbed him with a glove save. The puck came across the goalmouth to the Washington forward, and he appeared to have most of the net to shoot at before Shesterkin snapped his glove across and caught the puck in spectacular fashion.
After a review, however, it was determined the puck crossed the goal line, and the Capitals took a 2-1 lead.
Cuylle tied it later in the period, but Protas answered 57 seconds later.
Washington's Ryan Leonard had two assists in his first game back from an upper-body injury. His face was bloodied on a check from Jacob Trouba in a Dec. 5 game at Anaheim.
Tom Wilson missed the game for the Capitals because of an illness. Rangers assistant coach David Quinn was not behind the bench, also because of an illness.
Rangers: At the New York Islanders on Saturday night.
Capitals: At the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Rangers, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Rangers right wing Taylor Raddysh (14) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New York Rangers left wing Will Cuylle (50) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
