Islanders 4, Capitals 3 (OT): Defenseman Johnny Boychuk scored a power-play goal 2:53 into overtime as host New York moved into a tie with Pittsburgh atop the Metropolitan Division.

After failing to hold a third-period lead in both a 3-1 loss to Montreal on Tuesday and a 4-3 setback to Buffalo four days later, the Islanders took advantage of Evgeny Kuznetsov's high-sticking double-minor that carried into overtime. Boychuk's blast from above the left faceoff circle beat Braden Holtby in the extra session as New York improved to 5-1-1 in its last seven and gained a share of a division lead this late in the season for the first time since Feb. 19, 1990.

Lubomir Visnovsky recorded a power-play goal, fellow defenseman Calvin de Haan netted a short-handed tally and Anders Lee also scored for the Islanders, who have won two of three against Washington this season. Ryan Strome notched a pair of assists and Jaroslav Halak finished with 23 saves in his return from a two-game absence due to a lower-body injury.

Nicklas Backstrom and captain Alex Ovechkin each collected a goal and an assist while Eric Fehr also tallied in the third period for the Capitals, who have dropped two of three after going 7-0-2 in their previous nine contests. Holtby turned aside 35 shots while making his career-high 13th consecutive start and Washington failed on all four power-play opportunities to fall to 2-for-24 in its last six contests.

De Haan netted his first of the season with a blast from above the left circle at 1:41 of the third to give New York a 3-0 lead, but Fehr's backhand shot from in close three minutes later and Backstrom's tally at 6:29 trimmed the deficit. Ovechkin forged a 3-3 tie by wiring a shot past Halak following an offensive-zone faceoff win for his 17th goal of the season.

GAME NOTEBOOK: New York captain John Tavares, who set up de Haan's tally, has recorded three goals and two assists during his four-game point streak. ... Islanders D Thomas Hickey wristed a shot wide of the net that was deftly deflected home by Lee 8:15 into the first period to open the scoring and Visnovsky doubled the advantage in painful fashion, as his blast from the point deflected off the side of the head of Washington D Brooks Orpik and past Holtby midway through the second. ... Holtby's consecutive start stretch is the longest by a Capitals goaltender since Olaf Kolzig's run of 16 from Oct. 17-Nov. 22, 2003.