ELMONT, N.Y. -- Dylan Strome scored his third NHL hat trick for the Washington Capitals in a 3-1 win against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Tuesday.
It was Strome's first hat trick since March 8, 2022, for the Chicago Blackhawks. He has 29 goals this season, an NHL career high.
Charlie Lindgren made 33 saves for the Capitals (51-21-9), who had lost two in a row (outscored 11-1).
Washington, which will finish first in the Metropolitan Division, will conclude its regular season at the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday.
Hudson Fasching scored for the Islanders (35-34-12), who have lost four of their past five games (1-2-2). Ilya Sorokin made 33 saves.
New York, which has been eliminated from playoff contention, will conclude its regular season at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday.
Strome gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead on a power play at 8:15 of the first period. He scored with a point shot that deflected off Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock and beat Sorokin blocker side.
Strome extended the lead to 2-0 at 7:52 of the second period. Alex Ovechkin stole the puck from Scott Mayfield behind the net and sent a backhand pass to Strome, who scored with a shot from the high slot that snuck under Sorokin's blocker arm.
Anders Lee appeared to score for the Islanders at 1:19 of the third on a power play, but the goal was waved off immediately. Lee had tried to catch the puck in the low slot but ended up knocking it into the net with his glove instead.
Fasching did cut the lead to 2-1 at 11:36 of the third when his centering pass deflected in at the top of the crease.
Noah Dobson had a chance to tie a short time later at 14:06, but his shot off the rush hit the post.
Lindgen preserved the one-goal lead when he denied a few chances from Lee at the post before getting a whistle at 18:25. Strome then completed the hat trick by scoring into an empty net at 18:49 for the 3-1 final.
