Capitals 1, Devils 0 (OT)
NEWARK, N.J. -- John Carlson scored with 2:43 left in overtime to lead the Washington Capitals to a 1-0 win over New jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Friday.
Braden Holtby made 22 saves as Washington improved to 53-15-5.
Despite receiving 25 saves from Scott Wedgewood in his third NHL game, New Jersey fell to 36-31-8.
The game was a decidedly conservative affair. Neither team scored until Carlson's game-winner.
Prior to Carlson's seventh of the season, much of the offensive attempts were perimeter shots as the middle of the ice was unnavigable.
Washington outshot New Jersey 26-22 for the game.
Despite outshooting New Jersey 10-4 in the opening 20 minutes, the Capitals and Devils went into the first intermission in a scoreless deadlock. The game slowed significantly in the second period, as the teams combined for 15 shots -- nine for the Capitals and six for New Jersey. At the second intermission, Washington had a 19-10 advantage in shots.
Much of the game was contested at even strength. Washington finished 0-for-1 on the power play, while the Devils were 0-for-3. Whereas New Jersey recorded seven of its 21 shots on the power play, the Capitals did not record a shot on their man advantage.
The best opportunity either team had in the first 40 minutes was Capitals forward Jay Beagle's shot which rang off the far post in the first period. Late in the third period, the Capitals' Evgeny Kuznetsov dangled through the slot, but his wrist shot was fired wide of the net.
Neither Wedgewood nor Holtby had to work especially hard in nets. Which in theory benefitted the Devils, who were coming off 3-0 win over Pittsburgh on Thursday night. Wedgwood made 39 saves in that game -- the second of his NHL career and the second of this season.
Moments before Carlson's game-winner, Capitals defenseman Nate Schmidt had a breakaway opportunity but missed high.
NOTES: Washington has now won the last seven meetings with New Jersey by a 23-11 margin. ... Washington D John Carlson returned to the lineup after missing 25 games with a lower-body injury. Carlson had previously missed 12 games earlier this season with the undisclosed injury, which ended his ironman streak at 412 games. ... The Capitals scratched D Taylor Chorney, D Mike Weber and C Michael Latta. ... Washington RW T.J. Oshie did not play because of the flu. ... New Jersey G Cory Schneider missed his ninth straight game with a Grade 1 sprain of the right medial collateral ligament. ... D Jon Merrill, D David Schlemko, D Seth Helgeson, C Jacob Josefson and C Tyler Kennedy were scratched by the Devils. ... New Jersey D Andy Greene played in his 303rd straight game dating to March 6, 2012 -- the second longest streak in team history. ... Washington D Karl Alzner played in his 500th NHL game.