SPORTS WITH 3

It was not pretty by the slightest of margins, but the Devils found a way to grind out a victory to end a 2 game skid. Final score, Devils 3, Capitals 2. New Jersey overcame two one goal deficits against the Capitals. Mathieu Perreault scored first on the Power Play to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead, but Patrik Elias tied the game on a short-handed goal. Seconds later on the same power play Mike Ribeiro got a controversial goal as the refs, who had a rough night missed a possible interference call against Washington. Nevertheless, this game really came down to special teams. 

The Devils had two 5 on 3 advantages in Period 3, but failed on the first one. However, that did not derail them as Andrei Loktionov scored his first goal as a Devil to tie the game at 2. And, the next 5 on 3, Ilya Kovalchuk put all the Devils special teams nightmares to rest with the clincher. The Devils ended up 1 for 8 on the power play, while the Capitals were 2 for 5. Again, as mentioned the officiating was very suspect tonight. In fact, when the Devils got their first 5 on 3 advantage, which came as a result of a Delay of Game penalty, the wrong Capital went to the penalty box. 

Shots were 37-19 Devils in the game as Marty Brodeur, who usually struggles at Verizon Center got 17 saves, while Braden Holtby made 34 saves. Next up for the Devils is Part II of this Washington fork on Saturday at Noon ET.