Mercer sparks Devils to shootout win against Capitals

WASHINGTON -- Dawson Mercer extended his point streak to 11 games for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-2 shootout win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Thursday.

Mercer had a goal and an assist, giving him 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) during the streak.
Timo Meier, playing his third game with New Jersey after being acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks on Feb. 26, scored the only goal of the shootout in the fourth round, beating Darcy Kuemper stick side.
"They gave me the go and I had it in my head what I wanted to do," Meier said, "and luckily I could finish the game off like that and get us two points."
Erik Haula scored, and Akira Schmid made 20 saves for the Devils (42-16-6), who are four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
"We had a lot of great quality opportunities." New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. "I thought we played well. Didn't give up a lot. Took a lot better care of the puck and some of the great chances we missed allowed them to hang around the game."

Trevor van Riemsdyk and Dylan Strome scored, and Kuemper made 38 saves for the Capitals (31-28-7), who are five points behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh has two games in hand.
"We definitely needed two (points)," Capitals coach Peter Laviolette said. "We had chances I think to score and weren't able to capitalize. They certainly had their chances as well. I though Darcy played an unbelievable game, but you have opportunities, we just couldn't get it done. I think you look back with frustration."
New Jersey outshot Washington 30-11 over the second and third period.
The Capitals took a 1-0 lead with 10 seconds remaining in the first period when van Riemsdyk's shot from above the right face-off circle deflected in off the leg of Devils defenseman John Marino.
"I think we started off maybe a little sluggish, then that second half of the first I thought we were good," van Riemsdyk said. "I thought we had moments where we were very good."
Haula tied it 1-1 during a power play at 6:55 of the second period when his pass attempt deflected in off Washington defenseman Alexander Alexeyev.
"I was looking for my buddy [Ondrej Palat] backdoor, but I got a nice bump," Haula said.
Mercer gave New Jersey a 2-1 lead at 7:32, knocking in the rebound of Nico Hischier's shot.

Strome tied it 2-2 from in front of the crease at 9:50, batting in T.J. Oshie's centering pass.
"Sometimes it's not about just screening the goal, it's about being off to the side and tipping where the goalies can't fully see the puck and it goes in a different direction," Strome said. "I'm playing with some good players who get pucks to the net."
NOTES: Haula has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past three games. … The Devils became the first team in NHL history to dress four Switzerland-born players (Schmid, Hischier, Meier and Jonas Siegenthaler). … Kuemper is 0-5-3 against New Jersey in his NHL career, the only team he has not defeated. … Strome has eight points (three goals, five assists) in his past six games.