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Brock Nelson's goal is all Islanders need to beat Capitals, tie for lead in East

Islanders' Brock Nelson (29) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Credit: AP/Frank Franklin II

Nobody expected another high-scoring match.

But the Islanders and Capitals completely tightened things up on Tuesday night before a sell-out crowd of 1,400 at Nassau Coliseum after combining for 12 goals just five days earlier.

Brock Nelson scored in one of the best Islanders’ third periods of the season for an entertainingly intense, 1-0 win. It allowed the Islanders (25-10-4), who won their third straight, to match the Capitals atop the East Division with 54 points.