Devils score three in the third to beat Capitals 5-2

The Devils broke a 2-2 tie with three third-period goals and beat the Capitals 5-2 at Prudential Center. New Jersey improved to 13-6-0 and 26 points. Washington fell to 10-6-0.

Evan Rodrigues, the player of the game with a Chirp Rating of 8.2, scored 2:20 into the first for a 1-0 Devils lead. He finished with a goal, an assist and two shots on goal. Ryan Leonard tied it 1-1 for Washington late in the first. Pierre-Luc Dubois put the Capitals ahead 2-1 early in the second. Lenni Hameenaho deflected one in at 9:51 to make it 2-2.

The third period belonged to New Jersey. Vladislav Kolyachonok put the Devils ahead 3-2 at 6:27, with Rodrigues getting the assist. Stefan Noesen made it 4-2 at 17:07. Jack Hughes added a wrist shot at 19:15 for the 5-2 final. Arseny Gritsyuk had two assists.

Chirp's Sim gave the Devils a 60% chance before the game.