WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Capitals were already facing an urgent situation, having fallen below the playoff cut line. Then they lost their top two goalies to injuries at the same time.

Clay Stevenson seized his opportunity.

Stevenson made 29 saves Monday night, helping Washington to a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders. The 26-year-old goalie, who had only one NHL game on his resume before last weekend, has now won each of his two starts since rejoining the Capitals. He also beat Carolina on Saturday.

“No different than forwards or defensemen, you're going to go through injuries and things are going to happen throughout the season,” coach Spencer Carbery said. “Being able to have someone like Clay be able to come up and play really well like he has over the last couple games is certainly something that the organization thinks is important.”

Stevenson played one game for the Capitals last season. In his return Saturday, Washington fell behind 3-0 before rallying to beat the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime for his first career victory. With Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren still unavailable, Stevenson played again Monday in a huge divisional matchup with the Islanders.

The win pulled the Capitals within two points of the Islanders for the Metropolitan Division's third playoff spot. It could have been a lot worse, but Washington has turned things around following a concerning slump and now has a three-game winning streak. The Capitals have two more games before the Olympic break.

“Guys understand the significance that essentially our season's on the line and our playoff lives are on the line," Carbery said. "Once you get down after the break, you're 10 points back or whatever it might be like that — you got to go on like an 18-2 rip.”

Thanks to Stevenson, Washington has a more manageable hill to climb. Now the Capitals play at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Carbery wouldn't commit to a starting goalie. The Capitals also recently called up Garin Bjorklund from the minors, but he's never played in the NHL.

Stevenson said he's able if needed for the second half of this back-to-back and he's done it already many times.

"I'm ready always.”

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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.

Up next

Islanders: Host Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

Capitals: Play at Philadelphia on Tuesday night.

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