Capitals 4, Devils 3
WASHINGTON -- Defenseman Brooks Orpik scored with 3:58 left as the Washington Capitals tallied twice in the final 6:05 to rally
past the New Jersey Devils 4-3 on Saturday night for their third straight win.
Orpik took a pass from center Evgeny Kuznetsov and fired high past goaltender Cory Schneider from the left circle for his second goal of the season.
Left winger Reid Boucher gave New Jersey a 3-2 lead with 8:56 left in the game, but Washington right winger T.J. Oshie tied it from his knees in the slot with 6:05 left when he backhanded the puck off a pair of Devils' skates and into the net.
Left winger Alex Ovechkin scored his 38th of the season and added an assist, and Kuznetsov notched his 17th goal.
Braden Holtby stopped 21 shots for the NHL-leading Capitals (43-10-4) who have won eight of nine overall, and are 16-1-1 in their last 18 home games.
Boucher also had two assists for New Jersey, while right winger Kyle Palmieri and center Travis Zajac each had a goal and an assist.
Schneider made 28 saves for New Jersey (29-24-7), which has lost three straight as it fights for a playoff spot.
Both teams had plenty of scoring chances during an entertaining first period that saw the Devils match their even strength production from their previous five games combined.
Palmieri set up the first goal when he skated behind Holtby and passed in front. Zajac banged the loose puck home for his ninth goal with 4:32 left in the period.
Ovechkin tied it less than two minutes later when defenseman Dmitri Orlov gloved a New Jersey clearing attempt and then passed to him at the bottom of the left circle. Ovechkin, all alone, took his time and fired between Schneider's legs to tie it.
New Jersey regained the lead with 23 seconds left when Palmieri skated through the right circle. As he was crossing the end line, Palmieri fired on net from a tough angle, but the puck deflected off Holtby's back and into the net.
Washington outshot New Jersey 12-4 in the second period and pulled even at 9:16 when Schneider blocked center Michael Latta's wraparound attempt, but Kuznetsov fired the rebound over the goalie's shoulder for his 17th of the season.
NOTES: The Devils are 4-2-2 this season in the second of back-to-backs. ... Washington C Jay Beagle practiced with the team for the first time since injuring his hand on Dec. 30th. ... New Jersey scratched RW Bobby Farnham, D Damon Severson and D Eric Gelinas. ... Capitals' RW T.J. Oshie played his 500th NHL game. ... Washington scratched D Taylor Chorney and RW Stanislav Galiev. ... With the NHL trade deadline approaching on Feb. 29, scouts from Montreal, Nashville, and Winnipeg were listed on the Verizon Center press box seating list. ... The teams conclude the season series March 25th at New Jersey.