Washington, DC (SportsNetwork.com) – Matt Niskanen scored just 1:13 into
overtime to lift the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 win over the New Jersey
Devils on Thursday.
Karl Alzner and Niskanen each finished with a goal and an assist, Eric Fehr
also lit the lamp and Braden Holtby made 29 saves for the Capitals, who
rebounded from a 3-0 loss to Winnipeg for their fourth win in their last five
games.
Steve Bernier tied the game late as the Devils came away with a point, while
Travis Zajac also scored and Cory Schneider made 21 stops in the team’s third
straight loss.
Schneider was pulled for an extra attacker late in regulation and it paid off.
Bernier tapped in Scott Gomez’s feed from behind the net with 29.2 seconds
left to force overtime.
In the extra session, Niskanen’s rising slap shot from above the left circle
deflected off a defender’s stick and past Schneider to seal the outcome.
Alzner opened the scoring by accepting a cross-ice feed from Niskanen and
snapping a shot past Schneider’s blocker from the left circle just 2:51 into
the game.
Fehr increased Washington’s lead to 2-0 as his right point shot went off a
Devils player’s stick and into the net 1:35 into the second period.
Zajac cut the deficit in half with 5:19 left in the middle frame by jamming
home a loose puck through Holtby’s pads in tight.
Five minutes into the third, the Devils had a goal waved off after forward
Adam Henrique chipped away at the puck in the crease and Holtby was pushed
into the net.
Game Notes
Niskanen has tallied four assists over his last four games … Washington won
four of its five matchups with New Jersey this season … The Capitals have
not allowed a power-play goal against the Devils this season, killing off all
12 penalties … Washington improved to 33-2-4 when scoring first this season.
