Caps Defeat Devils 4-1

The Washington Capitals won again, this time against New Jersey Devils to take the Eastern Conference lead back.

Washington jumped on New Jersey early with Alexander Ovechkin’s 25th goal of the season, 1 shy of Marian Gaborik for the NHL lead, the first of three points for Ovechkin on the night, a little over the 4 minute mark.  It was a direct shot off a face off win by Nicklas Backstrom to give the Caps a 1-0 lead.  Matt Bradley would put the Caps up 2-0 later in the first period with a high, change of speed shot that went off of Martin Broduer’s glove and into the net to give the Caps a 2-0 lead.  Rod Pelley would score his second goal of the year later in the first period, the only goal 21 year old Michal Neuvirth would yield, to send the Caps into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.   In the high shot first period, New Jersey edged Washington 15-14 on shots on goal.  For Ovechkin, he added two more assists giving him his third consecutive 3 point night.

Nicklas Backstrom scored the only goal of the second period to give the Caps a 3-1 lead.  It was Backstrom’s 3rd straight game with a goal and number 9 in the month of December.   Backstrom added two assists for a 3 point night and his 18th point in the month of December, by far, the hottest Caps of the month.

Mike Green finished off the scoring with his 8th goal of the year just 39 seconds into the third period.  Green extended his scoring streak to 3 games and has scored a goal in consecutive games.

Michal Neuvirth won his third consecutive start, stopping 29 of 30 shots and improve to 3-2 on the season.  My question is — where are the Caps fans that wanted to trade Neuvirth after his Toronto performance?  Where are they now?

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Caps over Devils 4-1