WASHINGTON (AP) — Paul Cotter scored twice, giving him four goals through four games this season, and the New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 5-3 on Saturday night.
Capitals star Alex Ovechkin was held without a shot for only the 23rd time in his distinguished career, though he did have an assist and six hits. Washington's captain started his 20th season 42 goals from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record of 894.
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New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) celebrates his goal with right wing Stefan Noesen (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren, center, and defenseman John Carlson (74) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) handles the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. The Devils won 5-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) and New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter, left, celebrates his goal with right wing Stefan Noesen, center as Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) looks on at right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) shoots the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, battles for the puck against New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) reaches for the puck against New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. The Devils won 5-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) celebrates with goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. The Devils won 5-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Seamus Casey, Tomas Tatar and Dawson Mercer also scored for New Jersey. Erik Haula and Stefan Noesen each had three assists, and Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves.
The Devils (3-1-0) took the white-knuckle route to protecting a two-goal lead entering the third, as the Capitals (0-1-0) scored 95 seconds into the period on Tom Wilson's slap shot.
Washington had opportunities to tie the game on a power play midway through the period, but Mercer put in an empty-netter with eight seconds left, securing the victory.
John Carlson and Dylan Strome each had a goal and an assist for Washington.
Capitals defenseman Matt Roy left the game with a lower-body injury and did not return.
Devils: Offseason optimism around this team appears to be warranted, as Cotter is rolling and the offense is generating strong scoring opportunities.
Capitals: The home opener included more than 70 team alumni in attendance to celebrate the franchise's 50th anniversary, but a raucous, sold-out crowd couldn't lift the team to a tying goal late.
Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren lost his stick, starting a sequence that led to Cotter's second goal off a 2-on-1 rush by the Devils, giving New Jersey a 4-2 lead heading into the second intermission.
Washington's third-line forwards (Sonny Milano, Hendrix Lapierre and Aliaksei Protas) were on the ice for three New Jersey goals.
The Capitals continue a three-game homestand Tuesday against the Vegas Golden Knights, while the Devils return home for a Monday matinee against Utah.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) celebrates his goal with right wing Stefan Noesen (11) during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils left wing Tomas Tatar (90) tries to get the puck past Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren, center, and defenseman John Carlson (74) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) handles the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the New Jersey Devils, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. The Devils won 5-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre (29) and New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) battle for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter, left, celebrates his goal with right wing Stefan Noesen, center as Washington Capitals goaltender Charlie Lindgren (79) looks on at right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) shoots the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, left, battles for the puck against New Jersey Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, right, during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) reaches for the puck against New Jersey Devils right wing Stefan Noesen (11) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. The Devils won 5-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) celebrates with goaltender Jacob Markstrom (25) after an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. The Devils won 5-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter (47) celebrates his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
