The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils 4-2 on Saturday afternoon, led by a highlight-reel goal from Ryan Leonard. The win marks two consecutive victories for Washington, while the Devils fell to a 4-4-0 record to start the season.

How did the Capitals secure the win?

Washington took control of the game after Arsenal Gritsyuk gave New Jersey an early lead. Ryan Leonard tied the game late in the first period by skating coast to coast during a power play to beat Jake Allen. The Capitals then scored two quick goals to start the second period:

  • Ilya Protas scored on a feed from Alex Ovechkin.
  • Dylan Strome finished a play involving Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou.

Goaltender Logan Thompson made 29 saves, including 16 during a high-pressure third period where Washington was outshot 17-5. Boone Jenner and Vincent Desharnais also contributed to the victory, with Desharnais recording two assists.

Other NHL results from Saturday

In other action, the Carolina Hurricanes extended their winning streak to seven games by defeating the Winnipeg Jets 3-2. Nikolaj Ehlers scored a third-period power-play goal to secure the win. Pyotr Kochetkov earned his fifth victory of the season, making 21 saves to protect the lead in the final minutes.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Lightning overcame a two-goal deficit to beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2. Nikita Kucherov scored twice, while Jake Guentzel provided both a goal and an assist. The victory improves Tampa Bay's home record to 5-0, leaving Vancouver winless on their current five-game road trip.

Game analysis and player performance

Following the victory, Washington coach Spencer Carbery noted that Thompson's performance was vital to closing out the game. Thompson credited the team's success to playing their game and staying on top of the opposition during the first 40 minutes.

On the other side, Devils player Timo Meier noted that his team lost several puck battles and struggled to maintain performance over the full 60 minutes. Despite a strong start, the Devils could not overcome the momentum shift caused by Leonard's spectacular end-to-end effort.

FAQ

What was the score of the Washington vs. New Jersey game?

The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils with a final score of 4-2.

Who was the standout player for the Hurricanes?

Nikolaj Ehlers scored a crucial power-play goal, and Pyotr Kochetkov earned the win with 21 saves.