Capitals 4, Devils 1
Fourth-liner Jay Beagle matched a career high with his fourth goal midway through the second period to snap a tie as visiting Washington improved to 6-1-1 against Metropolitan Division rivals.
Brooks Laich collected a goal and an assist while Evgeny Kuznetsov converted a power-play opportunity for the Capitals, who snapped a four-game winless streak (0-2-2) in the Garden State by posting their second win in three meetings with New Jersey this season. Defenseman Karl Alzner also tallied, Joel Ward notched two assists and Braden Holtby finished with 33 saves.
Patrik Elias scored in his return from a one-game absence due to a groin injury for the Devils, who have dropped three in a row at home and six of their last seven overall (1-4-2). Dainius Zubrus recorded his second assist in as many games and Cory Schneider turned aside 25 shots in the setback.
Beagle entered the offensive zone on the right wing and skated hard to the net before backhanding the puck past Schneider 9:15 into the second period to give Washington a 2-1 lead. Kuznetsov doubled the advantage just 3:25 later, wristing a shot from the right faceoff circle under the crossbar, before Laich sealed it with an empty-net goal.
Alzner capitalized on New Jersey defenseman Andy Greene's turnover by wristing a shot from the top of the left circle past a screened Scheider 3:47 into the contest to open the scoring. The Devils answered at 6:10 as Elias swatted the puck out of the air and past Holtby for his 396th career goal after Zubrus was denied by the netminder.
GAME NOTEBOOK: New Jersey RW Jaromir Jagr registered three shots on goal in his return from a one-game absence due to the flu. ... Beagle scored four times in both the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons. ... The crowd at the Prudential Center cheered during the second intermission as the scoreboard displayed highlights of former New Jersey G Martin Brodeur receiving his first win in St. Louis' 6-4 triumph over the New York Islanders.