Protas Has 2 Goals and an Assist as Capitals Beat Islanders 4

Top pick Schaefer nets 1st NHL goal as Isles lose

Matthew Schaefer, 18, this year's No. 1 overall pick, scored his first career goal Saturday, as the New York Islanders dropped their home opener, 4-2, to the Washington Capitals, and teammate Bo Horvat said afterward that the rookie "took the game over."

New era glow quickly fades as Islanders fall flat to Capitals in home opener

Everything from the game presentation at UBS Arena to the roster on the ice looked different. The 7 p.m. start time was a departure from what had previously been a standard 7:30 puck drop. The loudest roar in pregame warmups was for Matthew Schaefer. Of course. And then ... the Islanders went splat.

Protas has 2 goals and an assist as Capitals beat Islanders 4-2

Aliaksei Protas had two goals and an assist, and the Washington Capitals beat New York 4-2, spoiling the Islanders’ home opener.

Aliaksei Protas scores twice to leads Capitals past Islanders

Aliaksei Protas scored twice Saturday night for the Washington Capitals, who never trailed in a 4-2 win over the New York Islanders in Elmont, N.Y.

Matthew Schaefer scores first NHL goal in Isles home opener

The Islanders are now 1-3-1 in home openers at UBS Arena. Saturday night's match marked the start of a three-game homestand and a stretch of five-of-six at UBS Arena, where establishing a home-ice advantage is a must.

Matthew Schaefer’s 1st NHL goal not enough, Islanders fall to Capitals in home opener

ELMONT, NY — Mathew Schaefer helped turn the tide of what was shaping up to be a blowout night with his first career NHL goal, but it still was not enough to