Dmitry Orlov scored with 21 seconds remaining in overtime and the visiting Washington Capitals edged the New Jersey Devils 2-1 Friday night in Newark, N.J.
The Capitals improved to 7-0-0 against the Devils thanks to Orlov’s fifth goal of the season.
The defenseman scored when he raced up the ice and released a blistering wrist shot from the right faceoff circle before New Jersey’s Yegor Shrangovich could defend him. The puck sailed over goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood’s left shoulder and the shot was so hard that the puck quickly caromed out of the net.
Orlov’s goal helped the Capitals rebound from getting outscored 13-6 in losses to the New York Rangers and New York Islanders in the first two games of their five-game road trip.
The Capitals also improved to 15-4-0 in their past 19 games.
Orlov scored after Washington goaltender Vitek Vanecek denied scoring chances by Travis Zajac and Jack Hughes. He stopped Zajac on a sharp angle attempt and also denied Hughes on a breakaway by diving to smother a backhander with about two minutes left.
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Orlov also scored after the Capitals nearly won it in the first two minutes of overtime. Connor Sheary was denied on a breakaway seconds into the extra session and with about three minutes left, T.J. Oshie was stopped on a 2-on-1.
Defenseman John Carlson scored midway through the second period for Washington while Michael McLeod tallied in the second for New Jersey.
Vanecek made 22 saves as Washington posted its fifth one-goal win over the Devils in the season series that concludes Sunday.
Blackwood stopped 38 shots but the Devils dropped 1-2-2 in their past five contests.
Carlson opened the scoring at 8:22 of the second when he fired a slap shot from the middle of the slot over Blackwood’s glove shortly after the Devils won a defensive zone faceoff and turned the puck over.
The Devils evened the game 4 1/2 minutes later when McLeod was wide open in front of the crease and buried the rebound of Jesper Boqvist’s slap shot from the right wing.
–Field Level Media