Alex Ovechkin broke a second-period tie, helping the surging Washington Capitals secure a 3-2 victory over the struggling New Jersey Devils on Sunday. The win also marked the return of top goaltender Ilya Samsonov, who had been sidelined due to COVID-19.
Samsonov made 19 saves in his first NHL start since January 17, showing some rust but growing stronger as the game progressed. The Capitals extended their winning streak to three games and have now won six of their last eight (6-1-1). Nicklas Backstrom and Jakub Vrana also found the net as Washington completed a weekend sweep at the Prudential Center.
“It was great to see him back there, and it was great to get him a win in the first game he’s back,” Backstrom said of Samsonov. “They had some good chances in the third, but he really played solid. This win is a good confidence booster for him.”
Capitals coach Peter Laviolette noted Samsonov’s slow start but praised his performance as the game intensified.
“I thought he got stronger as the game went on, and when it’s 3-2 with the game hanging in the balance, that’s when he was at his best,” Laviolette said.
Rookies Mikhail Maltsev and Yegor Sharangovich scored for New Jersey, which has now lost five of their last six games. Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves for the Devils.
Ovechkin, who had only scored once in his previous eight games, snapped a 2-2 tie at 13:37 of the second period, beating Blackwood with a wrist shot from between the circles during a quick counterattack. The goal was his seventh of the season and his 362nd on the road, tying him with Steve Yzerman for second all-time in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky holds the record with 402.
Just moments before Ovechkin’s goal, Devils forward Nikita Gusev failed to capitalize on a 1-on-1 opportunity against Samsonov.
Laviolette praised Ovechkin’s aggressive play throughout the game.
“He was hard-charging, skating, and looking for lanes,” said Laviolette, who had given Ovechkin a maintenance day on Friday. “When he’s playing like that, good things happen.”
Despite allowing two goals, both of which beat him between the arm and body, Samsonov made crucial saves late in the game, including a last-second stop on a shot by Pavel Zacha, followed by a lucky deflection off John Carlson that prevented Kyle Palmieri from scoring the equalizer.
“I need to do better in those moments,” Palmieri said. “This season has had its ups and downs, and right now, we’re facing more challenges than we’d like.”
Vrana tied the game at 1-1 in the first period with his second goal in as many games.
HISCHIER SIDELINED
Devils captain Nico Hischier missed the game due to an undisclosed upper-body injury sustained during Saturday’s game when a deflected puck hit him in the shield, pushing it into his face. Coach Lindy Ruff stated that the injury was still being evaluated. With Hischier out, Jack Hughes took over as the top-line center, while Pavel Zacha moved to center on the second line.
Game Notes:
Ovechkin is now just five points shy of reaching 1,300 for his career. After calling up Samsonov, the Capitals placed goaltender Craig Anderson on the taxi squad. Zacha extended his point streak to 10 games (four goals, eight assists), becoming the 22nd player in franchise history to achieve a streak of that length. The Devils reassigned defenseman Connor Carrick from Binghamton (AHL) to the taxi squad. Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov missed his second straight game due to an upper-body injury. Backstrom remains one assist away from reaching 700.
UP NEXT:
- Capitals: Visit Boston on Wednesday for the third of five consecutive road games. Washington is 5-2-2 on the road.
- Devils: Host the Islanders on Tuesday in the third of five straight games at the Prudential Center. New Jersey is 2-6-1 at home.
