Cotter scores 2 more in Devils win against Capitals

WASHINGTON -- Paul Cotter scored twice for the New Jersey Devils in a 5-3 win against the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday.

Cotter has scored four goals in his first four games this season.

“He’s feeling it for sure,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I’ve liked his game in each of the games that we’ve played, whichever line we’ve had him on. Sometimes maybe I leave the game (thinking) he should’ve played a little bit more. So, you always try to give him a little bit extra here and there, but he’s just coming through when the opportunities present themselves.”

Tomas Tatar had a goal and an assist, and Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen each had three assists for New Jersey (3-1-0). Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves.

“I liked the way that we competed,” Noesen said. “Every time we got a goal scored against, the next couple shifts were really big for us. We kind of changed the momentum of the game.”

John Carlson and Dylan Strome each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals in their season opener. Charlie Lindgren made 28 saves.

“I think there was plenty of plays to be made out there that we either didn’t make or misconnected on, and I think we’d like to have a lot of them back,” Carlson said.

Carlson gave Washington a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 10:48 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer from the center point off an assist from Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was making his debut for the Capitals.

“I thought he was one of our better players tonight,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said of Dubois, who was acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings on June 19. “Thought he played real well, strong. That line (Connor McMichael, Dubois and Tom Wilson), you can tell they’ve got some chemistry and certainly complement each other well.”

Seamus Casey tied it 1-1 at 13:42 when he scored on a wrist shot from the top of the left circle.

Cotter, who moved from the fourth line to the third line on Saturday, gave the Devils a 2-1 lead at 16:24. Haula skated into the left circle and passed across the slot to Noesen, who found Cotter in front of the crease for the tip-in.

“It’s awesome,” Cotter said of playing with Noesen. “He’s a worker. He’s really good at what he does, so that makes it easy for me and Haula to just find spots."

Strome tied it 2-2 just 32 seconds into the second period when he knocked in a loose puck during a scramble in front.

Tatar put New Jersey back ahead 3-2 at 3:56, scoring off his own rebound while falling to the ice.

Cotter’s second goal of the game extended it to 4-2 at 13:38. He finished a pass from Noesen on a 2-on-1 rush.

Wilson cut it to 4-3 at 1:35 of the third period, scoring from the slot off a pass from McMichael from behind the net.

“I thought our line was good,” Wilson said. “We got a lot of forechecked pucks back. [Dubois] is so good with the puck, fending guys off. [McMichael] was a force and obviously made an amazing pass to me. It’s fun playing with those guys, and I think we got better as the game went on.”

Dawson Mercer scored into an empty net with eight seconds remaining for the 5-3 final.

NOTES: Cotter, who was acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights on June 29, became the first player to score four goals through his first four games with New Jersey since Michael Cammalleri in 2014-15. … The Devils were 0-for-4 on the power play. The Capitals were 1-for-3. … Capitals defenseman Matt Roy left the game with a lower-body injury early in the second period and did not return. Carbery did not have a further update after the game.