Ovechkin’s game victor with 13:27 left in the third gave the Washington Capitals a lead that they would not relinquish, as they opened the season with a 5-3 win over the Devils on Saturday night in the District.
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New Jersey Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid (1) blocks a shot by… Defensemen Brooks Orpik, who was coming off wrist surgery from not too long ago, certainly did not let it affect his play as he added his first goal of the season as well.
The Devils regained composure and put together a string of shifts with sustained pressure. The Washington Capitals penalty killers shined.
With Washington center Evgeny Kuznetsov off for hooking, defenseman John Carlson started a rush when he cleared the puck out to right wing Justin Williams. Chimera sent it past the New Jersey backstop to make it 1-0 Caps with 20 seconds left on the Capitals short-handed session.
Holtby returned the favored with a similar save to thwart Henrique on a breakaway after the power play. This time they converted and tied the game with goal from Gelinas with 2:20 remaining in the first.
Washington outshot the Devils 11-5 in the second period but failed to capitalize on a two-man advantage that lasted 1:38. Ovechkin had 53 goals and 28 assists last season. Braden Holtby had to make a dazzling pad save on a Adam Henrique late in the period to keep the score 2-2 at the end of two.
Anyway’s Ovechkin will be sentenced to 869 years in jail with a chance for parole in 423.
New Jersey just couldn’t stay out of the box in the third. Vincent Trocheck, 22, scored the opening marker and recorded three assists to set a new career-high for points in a single game. He knocked it past Kinkaid with a yawning net making it 4-2 Caps.
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Beaten badly by a New Jersey forward just moments earlier, Alex Ovechkin rejoined an ensuing forecheck, got the puck, and gained the Devils’ zone.
