It is a hockey team that no longer sweats falling behind in the third period. Time and again over the last 12 months the Capitals have shown the offensive firepower needed to quickly turn a game.
But while that confidence is well earned — their 20 goals in just five games are tied for third in the NHL so far this season — even the Caps feel skittish when trailing the New Jersey Devils.
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For 15 years New Jersey’s effective two-way system has made rallying against them a dicey proposition. The Caps came close on Saturday night at Verizon Center. But the Devils, who scored a pair of goals 1 minute, 8 seconds apart midway through the third period to erase a Washington advantage, eventually left the District with a 4-3 shootout win — thanks in large part to future Hall-of-Fame goalie Martin Brodeur.
“If they have the lead it’s one of the hardest teams to do anything against,” said Caps captain Chris Clark. “They can clog up anything. It’s amazing how they do it. And it’s very frustrating.”
New Jersey left wing Zach Parise scored a power-play goal at 10:34 of the third period to tie the game at 2. Sixty-eight seconds later, defenseman Andy Greene put New Jersey on top with a hard shot that deflected past Caps goalie Brent Johnson (34 saves). Parise contributed on that one, too, by quickly pushing a pass from the side of the net out to Greene at the point.
And while Washington received a fluky goal of its own just over three minutes later from left wing Alexander Semin — his second of the evening — it couldn’t push through a go-ahead goal late in the third or in overtime. Brodeur was then at his best in the shootout, stopping Michael Nylander, Semin and then Alex Ovechkin on the Caps’ three attempts. Parise contributed again to the New Jersey cause with a backhanded flip past Johnson for the lone shootout goal for either team.
“It is very tiring when a team has possession of the puck in your own end,” said Caps defensemen Mike Green. “We just needed to stop and start instead of swimming all over the place because they were doing a pretty good job of puck possession [in the third period].”
Semin scored two goals for the second time this season and now has six overall. That’s a far cry from last year’s slow start when the 24-year-old battled a high-ankle sprain throughout the first two months of the season and didn’t completely round into shape until late in the year.
Green added a goal of his own on the power play, his fourth of the year, all with the extra man. But it wasn’t enough. Brodeur (24 saves) made several acrobatic stops late in the second period to keep the Devils within a goal at 2-1. The Caps also helped the Devils by converting on just one of eight power plays.
“I don’t think we got enough shots on the power play — especially against a goalie like [Brodeur],” Clark said. “You’re not going to score on a straight shot. A lot of it is going to be a rebound or a mistake on his part. But if it’s a straight shot or you’re trying to get too cute it’s probably not going to go in.”
The two teams finished the first period tied at 1. Washington opened the scoring at 5:04 when Sergei Fedorov — playing defense again because of an injury to Tom Poti (groin strain) — launched a picture-perfect 65-foot pass to a streaking Semin, who whipped a wrister by Brodeur for a 1-0 lead.
The Devils answered at 12:49 of the first when a shot by Patrik Elias was tipped home by New Jersey right wing Petr Vrana. The play was set up after a faceoff win by former Capital Dainius Zubrus. It was the first NHL goal in the first NHL game for Vrana, a 23-year Czech Republic native who replaced injured center Brian Rolston in the New Jersey lineup.
Midway through the second period, the Devils took a penalty to negate their own power-play advantage. That set up Washington’s go-ahead goal by Green at 12:18.
Ovechkin chunked a shot into the slot in front of Brodeur. But Brooks Laich corralled the puck before Brodeur could get to it, and dropped a beautiful pass to Green, who slammed the puck home for a 2-1 lead.
A key moment came early in the third when the Caps failed to convert on a 58 second 5-on-3 power play. Just 40 seconds later Clark was whistled for tripping, leading to the game-tying goal by Parise.
“I think we did a great job killing that second five-on-three and it gave us great momentum,” said Devils center Jamie Langenbrunner. “We got the quick two goals right after that.”
It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but Semin recorded his second goal of the night when the Caps needed it most. The puck rolled out near the blue line and Semin took a hard shot that Brodeur had in his sights. But before it got to him, the puck bounced off New Jersey defenseman Bryce Salvador and deflected into the net to tie the game at 3.
“I don’t think we were really in control of the game at all,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “We had the lead, but [Johnson] had the tougher saves to make than [Brodeur] … I thought it was one of those games where we definitely got outworked.”
Caps notes
» After the game the Caps reassigned left wing Chris Bourque to AHL affiliate Hershey. Bourque had just been recalled on Friday. He is back with a Bears squad that beat Syracuse in its home opener at Giant Center on Saturday night, 7-1. Hershey is now 5-0.
» Caps left wing Alexander Semin extended his point streak to five games. He is the only Caps player to record one point in every game this season.
» Alex Ovechkin, meanwhile, is struggling. He was held pointless for the third consecutive game and fourth time this season.
» The Devils finished with 37 shots to Washington’s 27. It was the first time this season an opponent has outshot the Caps.
» New Jersey left wing Patrik Elias set the Devils’ franchise record for assists when his first-period shot was tipped home by rookie winger Petr Vrana.
