Alex Ovechkin continued his scoring surge with two goals, and Ilya Samsonov stopped all 24 shots he faced as the Washington Capitals shut out the New Jersey Devils 4-0 on Friday night, completing a two-game sweep.
Ovechkin, who has now scored 10 goals in his last 10 games, leads the Capitals with 17 goals this season. His career goal total now stands at 723, just eight shy of Marcel Dionne for fifth place on the NHL’s all-time list. Ovechkin is also tied for sixth in the league in goals after a slower start to the season.
“I think he took it to heart when everyone was saying he had a bad start,” said Conor Sheary, who added a goal and an assist. “He’s probably the hottest guy in the league now, and every shot he takes seems dangerous. It’s incredible how many opportunities he creates and how many goals he scores.”
Nicklas Backstrom added his 13th goal of the season, while Evgeny Kuznetsov and Tom Wilson each contributed two assists. Samsonov, improving to 7-1-1, was rarely tested after an early save, securing his first shutout since January 2020.
With Ovechkin leading the charge, the Capitals have won nine of their last 10 games and reclaimed the East Division’s top spot. Washington is tied at 48 points with the New York Islanders but holds the tiebreaker, having played one fewer game.
The Capitals showcased their depth and experience in the second game against New Jersey, never trailing after taking an early lead. Despite being without center Lars Eller for six consecutive games due to a lower-body injury, the team continued to perform at a high level. T.J. Oshie filled in at center, while Daniel Sprong adapted well on the top line alongside Ovechkin and Kuznetsov.
“We’ve got a lot of depth and versatility,” said Wilson, who has four points in four games since returning from suspension. “Guys are stepping up when needed, and that’s what you want to see as a teammate.”
Backstrom, who leads the Capitals with 35 points, has been a consistent force throughout the season. Kuznetsov, who took some time to regain his form after recovering from COVID-19, now has 11 points in his last nine games.
The Devils, who had won four of their previous five games, could not overcome the Capitals in the back-to-back matchups.
“It’s not like we played badly,” said Devils center Travis Zajac. “Credit to them; they’re a veteran team that knows how to win. We competed, but we didn’t have enough to get the job done.”
GOALTENDING SUCCESS
Vitek Vanecek and Samsonov have shared goaltending duties in five back-to-back sets this season, with the Capitals sweeping four of them. The young goalies are proving they can handle the pressure as the team looks ahead to the playoffs.
“They’ve been really good,” said Capitals coach Peter Laviolette. “At the beginning of the year, we needed these young guys to step up, and they’ve made the most of their opportunities.”
LINEUP ADJUSTMENTS
Jesper Boqvist returned to the Devils lineup for his first NHL game since January 31, replacing Nick Merkley, who was moved to the taxi squad despite scoring his second goal of the season on Thursday.
UP NEXT
- The Devils continue their road trip with a two-game series against the Boston Bruins, starting on Sunday.
- The Capitals wrap up their six-game homestand on Sunday against the New York Rangers.
