Tomas Tatar and defenseman Dougie Hamilton each scored a power-play goal to lift the visiting New Jersey Devils to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday.
Tatar also had an assist on defenseman Brenden Dillon’s goal in the second period.
Jake Allen made 23 saves to propel the Devils to their ninth win in their last 12 games overall and second in three meetings against the Capitals this season.
Washington’s Connor McMichael scored a power-play goal and defenseman Matt Roy also tallied.
Charlie Lindgren turned aside 30 shots for the Capitals, who have lost two in a row since superstar captain Alex Ovechkin exited Monday’s 6-2 win against the Utah Hockey Club. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient will miss the next four to six weeks with a broken left fibula.
Dillon’s wrist shot from the point deflected off Paul Cotter and sailed past a screened Lindgren to give New Jersey a 2-1 lead at 7:08 of the second period. The goal was Dillon’s first of the season.
With his team on the power play, Hamilton doubled the advantage over 8 1/2 minutes later after wristing a shot from the slot past Lindgren for his third goal of the season.
McMichael returned the favor with his team on the power play, scoring his 13th goal of the campaign. He converted a sharp backdoor feed from defenseman John Carlson to halve the deficit 4:54 into the third period.
Roy wired a shot from the point that beat Allen to open the scoring with 6:08 remaining in the first period. The goal was Roy’s first of the season.
The lead didn’t last long as Tatar tapped home a loose puck following a backdoor feed from Luke Hughes just over 2 1/2 minutes later with the Devils on the man advantage. Tatar’s tally was his third of the season.
–Field Level Media
