Capitals top Islanders 4-1 to pull within 2 points of 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division

WASHINGTON (AP) — Martin Fehervary and Anthony Beauvillier scored 31 seconds apart in the second period, and the Washington Capitals beat the New York Islanders 4-1 on Monday night.

Clay Stevenson won his second straight game in goal for the Capitals, who pulled within two points of the Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division. Stevenson has been forced into action with Washington's top two goalies — Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren — both injured.

This was Stevenson's third NHL game.

Nic Dowd also scored for the Capitals in his 500th game with the franchise. John Carlson scored into an empty net with 2:25 to play on a shot that traveled almost the entire length of the ice.

New York led 1-0 after one period on a goal by Mathew Barzal. Tom Wilson's errant pass from the corner in his own zone ended up on Barzal's stick right in front of the net.

Wilson made up for that in the second, feeding Fehervary on a give-and-go, and the Washington defenseman tied the game. It was the fourth goal of the season for Fehervary, who is on Slovakia's roster for this month's Olympics.

Less than a minute later, Beauvillier jammed the puck past Islanders goalie David Rittich to the short side.

Dowd scored in the third when he sent the puck across the goal mouth toward Alex Ovechkin and it bounced in off Islanders defenseman Tony DeAngelo.

The Capitals have won three straight after going nearly two months without consecutive victories. Washington has points in five of its last six.

Islanders: Host Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Capitals: Play at Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

New York Islanders center Casey Cizikas (53) battles for the puck against Washington Capitals goaltender Clay Stevenson (33) and left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal, center, celebrates after his goal with center Bo Horvat (14) and left wing Ondrej Palat (81) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

New York Islanders left wing Jonathan Drouin (29) skates with the puck in front of Washington Capitals center Aliaksei Protas (21) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals left wing Anthony Beauvillier (72) celebrates his goal with left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehérváry (42) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)