UNDATED (AP) — The Washington Capitals have regained sole possession of first place in the NHL’s East Division, but it took overtime before beating New Jersey for the seventh straight time this season.
The Capitals pulled out a 2-1 win over the Devils as Dmitry Orlov scored on a length-of-the-ice rush with 21 seconds left in OT. Vitek Vanecek made three outstanding saves in the extra period, including a close-in redirection attempt by Travis Zajac seconds before Orlov ripped a shot over Mackenzie Blackwood.
John Carlson scored for the third time in two days as the Capitals bounced back from Thursday’s embarrassing 8-4 loss to the Islanders.
Washington is two points ahead of the Isles and Penguins with 19 games remaining.
Elsewhere on NHL ice:
— Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and Brandon Saad added a third as the Avalanche knocked off the Blues, 3-2. Jonas Johansson had 25 saves for his first win for Colorado in his second start since coming over from Buffalo in a trade on March 20. Gabriel Landeskog assisted on both of MacKinnon’s goals for the Avalanche, who have gone 11-0-2 in their last 13 games to take over first place in the West Division.
— Arizona’s Phil Kessel scored the game-winning goal 12 minutes into the third period of a 4-2 verdict over the Ducks. Lane Pederson found the net in his NHL debut and Adin Hill made 27 saves for Arizona. Johan Larsson and Nick Schmaltz also scored for the Coyotes, who have won four of their last five games to move back into the final playoff spot in the West Division.
— Martin Jones made 30 saves for his first shutout of the season as the Sharks earned a 3-0 decision over the Kings. Tomas Hertl had a goal and an assist to back Jones’ 25th career shutout and first since February 2020 against Pittsburgh. Timo Meier and Rudolfs Balcers also scored for the Sharks, who have won three straight and five of seven.
— Jason Spezza scored the only goal of the shootout to give the Maple Leafs a 2-1 victory over the Jets on. Kyle Connor, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Mark Scheifele were unable to beat Jack Campbell in the tiebreaker as the Toronto netmniider improved to 8-0-0 on the season. Travis Dermott scored in regulation for the North Division-leading Leafs, and Campbell finished with 31 saves.
— The Oilers came away with a 3-2 win over the Flames on Connor McDavid’s tiebreaking goal in the third period. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Dominik Kahun also scored for the Oilers, who have won five of their seven meetings with their archrivals this season. Michael Stone and Matthew Tkachuk (kah-CHUHK’) tallied in Calgary’s fifth straight loss.
