Washington (10-4-2) is now 7-0-1 at Verizon Center this year and last lost a home game in regulation on March 9. Since then it is 13-0-1 in the District — the lone defeat coming against New Jersey in a shootout on Oct. 18.

“We’re sending the message that we’re a tough team to beat at home,” said Theodore, who hadn’t started a game since a 5-0 loss at Buffalo on Nov. 1, but took over for an injured Brent Johnson Thursday at Carolina. “We’ve been playing really hard. We even missed some goals. It could have been a three or four goal lead for us.”

Only once in franchise history have the Caps reached 10 wins faster. That happened in 1991-92 when Washington was 10-3 through its first 13 games. And it will be some time before the unbeaten home streak ends. The Caps begin a five-game road trip tonight against the Devils and Wednesday head to California, where they will play three games in four nights. The last of those is next Saturday at San Jose, at 10-0-1 the only team in the NHL with a better home record than Washington.

The Caps struck first against New Jersey at 9 minutes, 52 seconds of the first period. Late in a power play, forward Eric Fehr pushed a loose puck to defenseman Mike Green at the point. He slid a pass to Ovechkin open on the left wing, who ripped a wrister that was tipped home by Brooks Laich for the 1-0 lead. It was Laich’s fourth goal of the season.

“Laich made a good play. He was right in front screening me,” said New Jersey goalie Scott Clemmensen. “After Ovechkin took the shot I heard a clap like it was deflected and then I lost it. Give him credit. It was a good play. They have a dangerous power play.”

The goal was actually credited to Ovechkin at first, something that has happened a few times already this season to Laich — not surprising since the majority of his goals have come off deflections in front of the net.

“I’d like to score a goal sometime when I actually get rewarded for it,” Laich said with a laugh. “Maybe I’ll ask [Caps coach] Bruce [Boudreau] if I can stand in the slot and just rip one-timers.”

The game stayed 1-0 for much of the second period as both teams struggled to finish their scoring chances. But at 18:31 of the period, Fleischmann roofed a shot over Clemmensen’s shoulder to make it 2-0. The play was set up by Viktor Kozlov, who fought off several Devils behind the net, made a move to clear some space and found Fleischmann with a deft pass.

“You know their offensive power,” said Devils forward Brian Gionta. “They’re a very explosive team. You can’t give them much. You’ve got to limit their quality scoring chances and create some cycle off their [defense].”

Fleischmann’s tally, his fifth of the year, gave the Caps a two-goal lead. But all those missed opportunities still caught up to them in the third. A bad line change by Washington gave New Jersey open ice in the neutral zone. Gionta banked the puck off the boards directly to teammate Patrik Elias, who skated in all alone and beat Theodore on a forehand shot between the pads at 11:55.

That cut the lead to 2-1 and put the issue in doubt. But Theodore made several key stops down the stretch — he had already made a spectacular stick-save on an open-net shot by Devils winger Zach Parise late in the second — and Ovechkin put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal with 21 seconds remaining.

“I thought our goaltender made some great saves to preserve the win,” said Boudreau, who added that Theodore was the likely starter for tonight’s rematch against the Devils. “[Theodore] has played some pretty good games. But he had to make more 10-bell saves tonight than any other time this year.”

Caps notes

» Caps forward Alexander Semin was hurt during a shift late in the second period and did not return for the third. The NHL’s leader in goals (13) and points (27) is listed as day-to-day, according to team officials, who did not disclose the exact nature of his injury.

» Caps forward Viktor Kozlov recorded his 500th career point with the assist on Fleischmann’s second-period goal.

» The Devils are now 1-5 since losing star goalie Martin Brodeur for 3-to-4 months after elbow surgery. New back-up goalie Scott Clemmensen finished with 24 saves.

» Ovechkin now has goals in three straight games for the Caps and five on the year. In his last five games Ovechkin has recorded 10 points.

» New Jersey finished with 33 shots to 27 for the Caps. Washington has been out-shot in four of its last five games, but has won all four. The Caps are now 5-1-2 when an opponent has finished with more shots.

» The Caps have not allowed more than one goal in a period in their last 20 periods of play.

» Friday’s sell-out crowd was the second of the season at Verizon Center. The Caps are now averaging 17,742 fans per game. That is 28,869 more than the team drew through the first eight home games last season