Devils Can’t Corral Capitals
New Jersey’s three game winning streak came to an end Monday night as the Washington Capitals used a four-goal second period to rout the Devils 6-3 at the Prudential Center. The loss drops Jersey to 3-3. They remain a point behind the Rangers, two points behind Washington and Philadelphia, and three points behind first place Pittsburgh (4-1-1) and Carolina (4-1-1).
The story of the day was Alex Ovechkin scoring his 783 career goal in the midst of Washington’s rally. He is now just four goals shy of tying Gordie Howe for the all time goals-scored record.
In fact his second period goal with a little less than three minute remaining in the period not only gave Washington a 4-1 lead, it proved to be the game winning shot, the 122 game winner of his career. That was enough to passĀ Howe for second all time in game winning goals. He is trailing only Jaromir Jagar (135) in that category.
The Devils tried to cut into the deficit with a pair of third period goals form Tomas Tatar and Jesper Bratt to make it a 5-3 game. However Aliaksei Protas netted his first goal of the years with 3:49 remaining in the game to put it out of reach.
Nathan Bastian also scored for the Devils on Monday.
Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood took the loss giving up five of the six goals on the night.
Never a doubt pic.twitter.com/3lLzZHwLHN
— x - Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 25, 2022