Capitals 3, Devils 2 (SO)
NEWARK, N.J. -- Right winger Alexander Ovechkin scored the deciding goal during a shootout to give the Washington Capitals a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday.
Center Adam Henrique and left winger Joseph Blandisi scored third-period goals to help the Devils erase a 1-0 deficit.
The Capitals entered the third period with a 1-0 lead on a goal by left winger Andre Burakowsky and avoided a second loss when leading after two periods this season (28-0-1).
Left winger Paul Carey scored late in the period to help get the game to overtime.
Devils goaltender Cory Schneider stopped 28 shots, while goaltender Braden Holtby made 22 saves for the Capitals.
Burakowsky's 10th goal of the season gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 12:30 of the second period. Center Evgeny Kuznetsov was the catalyst, as he carried the puck behind the net and made a no-look pass to the front of the net.
Right winger Justin Williams swiped it toward a disoriented Schneider and Burakowsky forced the wobbling puck barely across the goal line to break the scoreless tie.
An offensive-zone penalty assessed to Capitals center Mike Richards early in the third period allowed the Devils to tie the score on a power play.
Center Travis Zajac's shot from the slot found its way through the pads of Holtby, then Blandisi beat Capitals defenseman John Carlson to the loose puck and pushed it across the goal line to make it 1-1 at 1:51.
Henrique's 17th goal of the season put the Devils ahead 2-1. He followed a spoiled 2-on-1 attack led by Blandisi and wristed a shot past a screened Holtby at 7:47.
Carey's first NHL goal could not have come at a better time, as he pulled the Caps into a 2-2 tie with 5:53 remaining. He had little to do other than angle his stick in the slot for defenseman Matt Niskanen to hit it with a hard pass that deflected past Schneider.
NOTES: Capitals D Brooks Orpik and LW Marcus Johansson practiced Friday but did not play. Johansson has missed three games while Orpik has not played since Nov. 10. ... The Capitals scratched D Connor Carrick and RW Stanislav Galiev. ... Legendary Devils G Martin Brodeur was on hand to drop the ceremonial puck before the game. He also spent part of the morning serving as an instructor for a junior hockey clinic at the team's practice rink. ... Devils LW Michael Cammalleri missed his third straight game with a hand injury. He will be re-evaluated Monday. ... Devils D Damon Severson, LW Tuomo Ruutu and LW Stefan Matteau were scratched.