Capitals use penalty kill to win rematch with Devils

NEWARK, N.J.-- The Washington Capitals went 9-for-9 on the penalty kill, and six players scored in a 6-2 win against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on Saturday.
Washington killed four penalties in the first period, four in the second and one in the third, allowing seven shots on goal in 13:11 of shorthanded time.
"I thought our penalty killing was outstanding tonight," Capitals coach Barry Trotz said. "Our [defensemen] with our penalty killers did an outstanding job and we got momentum off of it. When the game was in doubt, our penalty killers held strong, got it done. ... As soon as we killed off those back-to-back penalties, we scored a goal and then we scored another goal."

The Capitals (21-9-5) turned a 2-1 lead into 4-1 shortly after a holding the stick penalty to Justin Williams expired in the second period, when Alex Ovechkin and T.J. Oshie scored 33 seconds apart.
WATCH: All Capitals vs. Devils highlights
"It was a good job on penalty kills, everybody blocking shots, sacrificing in the second period," said Capitals goalie Philipp Grubauer, who made 21 saves. "Everyone did a great job, and it was key going into the game especially after the last [game]."
The Capitals lost to the Devils 2-1 in a shootout Thursday despite taking 44 shots on goal.

New Jersey goalie Keith Kinkaid made 43 saves then, but he allowed six goals on 26 shots Saturday.
"I thought there were some situations in which we could have made a couple of better plays in front of him on some of the goals, some of the tipped goals," Devils coach John Hynes said. "I don't think tonight's situation was on our goaltender by any means."

Washington took a 2-0 lead on first-period goals by Brett Connolly (2:36) and Jay Beagle (19:01). With the teams 3-on-3, Kyle Palmieri scored for the Devils at 6:53 of the second period to make it 2-1.
"We had some opportunities in the first, and a lot in the second, but we didn't generate much," Devils defenseman Andy Greene said. "We have to break down their box, break down their [penalty kill], and be on the attack, and it seemed like we never got to that tonight"
Williams scored 16:34 into the second period to make it 5-1. He, Ovechkin and Oshie each had a goal and an assist.

Beau Bennett scored for the Devils (14-16-7) to make it 5-2 with 5:08 left in the third period, and Marcus Johansson scored 35 seconds later for a 6-2 lead.
"Solid effort by all of the guys today," Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "Offensive contributions and then the penalty killing and our backup goalie was really sharp. A great team effort today."

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Goal of the game

Williams scored on a redirection of Niskanen's shot from the point.

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Save of the game

At 11:47 of the second period, Grubauer stopped PA Parenteau, who came down the right side, with his pad to keep the Capitals ahead 2-1.

Unsung performance of the game

Capitals defenseman John Carlson didn't score a point but was plus-1 and had three of Washington's 13 blocked shots.

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Highlight of the game

With less than a minute remaining in the first period, Beagle redirected a point shot from Brooks Orpik past Kinkaid for a 2-0 lead.

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They said it

"Kinkaid had a really good game [Thursday]. He got hit with some pucks that on some nights they go in, but we said we have to make him mortal, and the guys I thought were very determined to get to some of those scoring areas." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz
"It's probably one of the worst things in hockey to see a guy go down like that. You never want to see that, but I'm going in on my forecheck. His back's to me, so I tried to let up a little bit. I wasn't trying to finish my check and kind of rubbed him out and honestly wasn't aware he had gone down until I looked back. ... Obviously not my intent and I'm wishing him the best." -- Capitals forward Tom Wilson on his hit on John Moore
"We have a little bit of a perfect storm right now on the power play and we have to work our way out of it." -- Devils coach John Hynes on their power play, which is 4-for-45 in the past 11 games

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Need to know

Devils defenseman John Moore was
taken off the ice on a stretcher
after he was hit awkwardly into the boards by Capitals forward Tom Wilson 3:10 into the game. "I just know that he went directly to the hospital and is going to be released [tonight]," Hynes said. ... The Capitals came into the game ranked fourth in the NHL on the penalty kill (85.8 percent). ... Grubauer, who made his first start in six games, has won four straight.

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What's next

Capitals: Host the Ottawa Senators on Sunday (7:30 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, SN, CSN-DC, NHL.TV)
Devils: Host the Boston Bruins on Monday (7 p.m. ET; SN, MSG+, NESN, NHL.TV)