Alex Ovechkin reacts after scoring the game-winning goal late in the third period of the Capitals’ 3-2 win over the Islanders. (Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post)

Alex Ovechkin dropped to one knee and pumped his fist in celebration, a sight the Washington Capitals had badly missed. He had only been out for one game but, at times, they looked lost without him. With the game tied late in the third period Thursday night, he again showed why his presence in the lineup is paramount to the team’s success.

Nicklas Backstrom passed to him in the high slot and Ovechkin fired, beating goaltender Jaroslav Halak with 2 minutes 40 seconds left to lift the Capitals to a 3-2 win against the New York Islanders. The victory snapped a rare two-game losing skid, and it marked the end of an odd stretch for the Capitals.

A blizzard had postponed two games, and coupled with the all-star break, Washington had to battle rust through lengthy idle stretches. Ovechkin had been suspended for one game because he chose to skip the All-Star Game to rest a lower-body injury. The result was two losses in a row over the course of 15 days. With one signature Ovechkin one-timer, things seemed back to normal.

The win extended the Capitals’ sizeable lead in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference with a 36-9-4 record. Nicklas Backstrom and T.J. Oshie each had two points.

[Trotz is ‘hopeful’ Marcus Johansson will travel with team next week]

1 of 28 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Capitals 2015-16: a season for the books View Photos Washington is having one of the best seasons in franchise history, melding veterans with exciting newcomers and backed by the best goalie in the league. Caption Washington had one of the best seasons in franchise history, winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the best record in the league and setting other records, both team and individual. Capitals 5, Devils 3 In his 11th season opener, Alex Ovechkin scores in the third period, hitting the top right corner of the goal, and adds an assist. “If he can do that every time we’re tied in the third period, that would be fine,” teammate Justin Williams said. “Just 81 more plus playoffs.” Katherine Frey/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

“It doesn’t feel like we’re a part of the league in a lot of ways,” Capitals Coach Barry Trotz said. “We haven’t played a lot of games; we’re used to playing on a more regular basis. We needed it. . . . We needed to feel how it is to be in a battle again and getting a win tonight was good.

“I know the guys feel much better about their game and about themselves than they did the last couple games. We’ve got some really good teams coming up, teams that are desperate to get into the playoffs, and we want to build our game. Our game slipped a little bit, some of it in our control and some not.”

With Ovechkin out of the lineup on Tuesday, the Capitals found themselves in a 4-0 hole to the Florida Panthers after two periods, booed as the second intermission horn sounded. But momentum seemed to be in Washington’s favor Thursday after Andre Burakovsky scored on a four-on-four to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes.

The sequence started with a Jason Chimera shot from the goal line. It got through Halak, and the puck rolled onto the blue paint. Burakovsky pressed his skates into the ice to get to it as Halak craned his head around, realizing the puck was behind him. As he turned and reached for it, Burakovsky beat him to the spot, swatting the puck into an empty net. It marked the fourth straight game the 20-year-old winger has scored.

“It was probably harder to miss than to score,” Burakovsky said. “It was just laying there on the goal line. I just got a stick on it. It’s always nice when they’re just right there in front of you; this is kind of the best goals.”

[Burakovsky, out of his funk, has his confidence back]

The Islanders didn’t go quietly. Washington won the first matchup easily, a 4-1 win in New York, but this was the kind of close game that was expected after a heated seven-game playoff series between the teams last season. Josh Bailey flipped a puck up and over goaltender Braden Holtby, playing in his first game in more than a week, to tie the game 5:38 into the third period.

1 of 56 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin through the years View Photos A look at the three-time NHL MVP’s career in Washington. Caption A look at three-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin's career in Washington. June 26, 2004 Ovechkin poses with Capitals scouting director Ross Mahoney, owner Ted Leonsis, and GM George McPhee after being picked first overall in the NHL Draft. “This is my fifth draft, and I haven't seen any consensus around the number one pick in those five years as I saw with this pick,” Leonsis said after the pick. “Time will tell whether this was the right decision, but right now it feels pretty good.” Ellen Ozier/Reuters Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue.

Holtby made 24 saves on a night there weren’t a lot of shots on goal for either team because it was so tight checking. The Capitals blocked 33 shots, a season high.

“After a tough loss against Florida, we had to bounce back and start winning the games,” Ovechkin said. “Huge response and a great job by us.”

Washington never had a reason to panic, but there was still a sense of urgency for the Capitals. Ovechkin’s part was obvious and necessary.

“He’s a goal-scorer, and that’s what we need him to do,” Holtby said. “He came through at the right time, and that’s the way our team is. Every guy has their role, and everyone seems to be doing it. That’s Ovi’s role, and he did it tonight.”