Capitals beat Devils 4-2 at Capital One Arena to move to 5-3-0

The Capitals got the job done at home Tuesday, beating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 at Capital One Arena to push their record to 5-3-0 and put some distance between themselves and a Devils team now sitting at 4-4-0.

It was a back-and-forth first period. Arseny Gritsyuk opened the scoring for New Jersey with a snap shot, assisted by Dawson Mercer and Stefan Noesen. Washington answered fast. Ryan Leonard tied it with a wrist shot, picking up help from Jakob Chychrun and, unusually, goaltender Logan Thompson.

Then the second period happened, and Washington took over.

Ilya Protas put the Capitals ahead with a snap shot, with Alex Ovechkin and Vincent Desharnais earning assists. Dylan Strome made it 3-1 on a backhand, with Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou setting him up. Boone Jenner stretched it to 4-1 before the period was out, converting another snap shot. Desharnais picked up his second assist of the night on that one.

Three goals in one period. That was the game.

Timo Meier pulled one back for New Jersey in the third on a wrist shot, assisted by Gritsyuk and Jesper Boqvist, but the Devils could not get any closer. Gritsyuk finished with a goal and an assist, the most productive night for any Devil on the ice. For Washington, Desharnais led all skaters with two points on two assists.

Strome's backhand in the second was Washington's decisive moment. His name on the scoresheet, the Capitals comfortably ahead, and the building behind them the rest of the way.