Satan and Josef Vasicek scored in regulation for the Islanders, who overcame a 2-0 deficit for the second straight game, having rallied from two down to beat San Jose 3-2 at home on Monday. New York's winning streak, its longest since December 2003, has come on the heels of a seven-game skid that dropped the team to the fringe of the playoff race.
Semin and Brooks Laich scored for the Capitals, who picked up a point to move into sole possession of second behind Carolina in the Southeast Division. Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 48 goals, was held without a goal for the third straight game, his longest goal-less streak of the season.
Washington outshot New York 30-19, including 3-0 in the five-minute overtime, but the Islanders always seem to have the Capitals' number, having now won 11 of 14 meetings while holding Washington to two or fewer goals in the last nine. Goaltender Rick DiPietro again had a solid game behind an injury-depleted defense that was missing Andy Sutton, who tore a hamstring Monday against San Jose.
Washington's Olie Kolzig was just as good as DiPietro, making 28 saves. Kolzig has allowed only 12 goals in his last six games.
The Capitals took an early lead when Matt Pettinger sent a long pass ahead to Semin, who outraced defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron on a breakaway and beat DiPietro.
Later in the first period, Laich made it 2-0 when he deflected Mike Green's blue-line slap shot on a power play. The puck struck the inside of the left post before settling into the net.
The Islanders pulled within one in the second period when Bill Guerin popped out of the penalty box had a breakaway on a pass from Satan. Kolzig made a fine save on Guerin, but the right wing got his own rebound and fed the trailing Satan for an easy goal.
Vasicek tied the game with 8:51 remaining in the third, collecting the puck in the right corner and scoring from a near-impossible angle with a shot that hit Kolzig and deflected into the net.
Three penalties were called in a two-minute span with the score tied at 2 late in the third - two on New York and one on Washington - but the Capitals couldn't take advantage, although Ovechkin came close when he hit the left post with just under four minutes remaining.
Semin had the best scoring chance in overtime, but he rushed a wraparound attempt and had his shot thwarted by DiPietro's stick.
