Nikolay Kulemin snapped a tie game midway through the third period, Cal Clutterbuck added an empty-net goal and the Islanders — refusing to close Nassau Coliseum in Game 6 — beat the Washington Capitals, 3-1, on Saturday to force a decisive contest in their opening-round series.
Kulemin’s goal at 10 minutes 33 seconds after John Tavares had been checked into the boards behind the net by Alex Ovechkin ignited yet another raucous celebration at the 43-year-old arena, which will close after this season when the Islanders move to Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Jaroslav Halak made 38 saves for the Islanders, who will play a Game 7 for the first time since 2002 on Monday in Washington.