With star center Jack Hughes sidelined, younger brother Luke Hughes delivered a standout performance, notching a goal and an assist while Simon Nemec sealed the win in the shootout as the New Jersey Devils edged the Washington Capitals 3–2 on Saturday night.
Arseny Gritsyuk also scored for New Jersey, which has now claimed four of its last five games via overtime or shootout and continues to sit atop the Metropolitan Division standings.
For Washington, Alex Ovechkin scored career goal No. 902 and added an assist, while Connor McMichael posted a goal and an assist. Despite a strong third-period push, the Capitals dropped their eighth game in their last ten and remain at the bottom of the division.
Luke Hughes quickly made his presence felt in his brother’s absence. After Washington took three straight penalties in the opening period, he set up Gritsyuk for a wide-open one-timer on the power play to make it 1–0. Later in the period, Hughes buried a wrist shot from the slot for a 2–0 lead heading into intermission.
Washington surged back in the third. McMichael tapped in a slick back-door pass from Ovechkin to cut the deficit, and seven minutes later, Ovechkin tied the game by ripping a shot past Jake Allen off a centering feed from McMichael.
Neither team could convert in the overtime period thanks to stellar goaltending on both sides — Allen finished with 30 saves, while Logan Thompson stopped 29. In the shootout, Jesper Bratt and Nemec converted for New Jersey to secure the win.
Up Next:
-
Devils: Continue their road trip Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
-
Capitals: Host the Los Angeles Kings on Monday.
