Devils 4, Capitals 3 (SO)
Ilya Kovalchuk and Patrik Elias scored in the shootout as the New Jersey Devils defeated the visiting Washington Capitals 4-3 Friday.
Martin Brodeur made 22 saves and stopped Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin in the shootout to improve to 9-9-0 on the season.
The Caps scored three third-period goals to erase a 3-0 New Jersey lead.
Brooks Laich scored his eighth goal of the season by finishing off a
tic-tac-toe passing play with Dennis Wideman and Ovechkin to start the
Washington rally. Jason Chimera cut the lead to one at 12:44, then drew the Capitals even with 1:42 remaining on a conversion of a no-look backhand pass from Laich.
After a scoreless first period, Kovalchuk sparked the Devils to three goals in the middle frame. His 11th goal of the year opened the scoring at 2:20, and the Devils extended the advantage 2 1/2 minutes later when Kovalchuk found Alexander Urbom for his first goal of the season.
Adam Henrique tipped in his ninth goal of the campaign midway through the period to make it 3-0 after 40 minutes.