Newark, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils continued their impressive run at Prudential Center on Thursday night, using a strong third-period performance to defeat the Washington Capitals 5-2 in the opening game of a two-game series.
Defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok made an immediate impact in his New Jersey debut, scoring the go-ahead goal early in the third period to put the Devils in front for good.
Kolyachonok’s shot slipped past Washington goaltender Logan Thompson at 6:27 of the final period, giving New Jersey a 3-2 advantage. The 25-year-old defenseman, who signed with the Devils as a free agent in July, entered the lineup in place of the injured Johnathan Kovacevic.
The Devils received contributions throughout their lineup, with Evan Rodrigues, Lenni Hameenaho, Stefan Noesen and Jack Hughes also finding the back of the net.
Connor Hellebuyck turned in another strong performance between the pipes, stopping 26 shots to help New Jersey extend its home winning streak to seven games. The veteran goaltender improved to 6-0 in his first six starts with the Devils.
New Jersey has been one of the NHL’s hottest teams, posting a 12-3-0 record over its last 15 games. The Devils have also established themselves as a difficult opponent at home, improving to 9-2-0 at Prudential Center.
Washington entered the matchup riding a two-game winning streak but couldn’t maintain its momentum. Ryan Leonard and Pierre-Luc Dubois provided the Capitals’ offense, while Thompson finished with 24 saves.
The Capitals struck first on Thursday’s power play when Rodrigues opened the scoring just 2:20 into the contest. Washington answered later in the opening period as Leonard converted a power-play opportunity to even the score.
Washington gained control early in the second period when Dubois scored to give the Capitals a 2-1 advantage.
New Jersey responded with an important equalizer from Hameenaho. The forward redirected Brendan Dillon’s shot past Thompson for his first goal of the season, bringing the game even at 2-2.
After Kolyachonok put the Devils ahead in the third, New Jersey continued to apply pressure. Noesen delivered an insurance goal at 17:07, extending the advantage to 4-2.
Hughes sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, completing the 5-2 win.
Hellebuyck’s performance was another significant storyline. The goaltender returned to action after sitting out Tuesday’s loss in Winnipeg against his former team, which traded him to New Jersey last month.
His departure from Winnipeg had generated considerable attention following reports of incidents involving his family. Hellebuyck previously indicated those circumstances contributed to his decision to seek a trade.
Since arriving in New Jersey, however, he has provided the Devils with stability and outstanding play in goal.
The Devils, who missed the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, are now firmly positioned near the top of the Metropolitan Division with 28 points, sitting in second place.
Up Next: New Jersey and Washington will meet again Saturday in the nation’s capital as the two-game series concludes.
