Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Alex Ovechkin scored two of Washington's
four third-period goals to complete his 11th career hat trick, as the Capitals
earned a split of a two-game series against New Jersey with a 5-1 win Saturday
at the Verizon Center.
Eric Fehr and Troy Brouwer also scored in the third period for the Capitals,
who bounced back from a 3-2 loss to the Devils on Thursday in Washington. A
quirk in the shortened schedule forced the teams to play consecutively in the
same city.
Mike Ribeiro set up two goals for Ovechkin, who added an assist for a four-
point game. Braden Holtby stopped 21 shots for Washington, which blew a 2-1
lead in the third period on Thursday.
Johan Hedberg got the start in net for the Devils after Martin Brodeur won two
nights ago and made 21 saves in defeat. Ilya Kovalchuk scored the lone goal
for New Jersey, which is 1-2-1 in its last four.
Ovechkin snapped a 1-1 tie just 1:23 into the third period with a blistering
wrist shot from the right circle. He took a perfect cross-ice feed from Matt
Hendricks and fired a laser past Hedberg's blocker.
The Caps took advantage of a Hedberg blunder just over 2 1/2 minutes later to
open some breathing room.
With New Jersey on a power play, Hedberg went behind the net to stop the puck
and set it up for his defense, but Fehr beat everyone to it and circled around
the cage for the easy score.
Ovechkin then completed his hat trick on a Washington power play with 4:47
remaining, taking a feed from Ribeiro and firing a shot from the left circle
through New Jersey defenseman Anton Volchenkov and Hedberg for his eighth goal
of the season.
Brouwer capped the uprising soon after on another Capitals power play when he
re-directed Ovechkin's pass though Hedberg's legs for his eighth goal.
The Caps had the better of the play in a scoreless first period, outshooting
the Devils 11-5. Wojtek Wolski had the best opportunity for Washington with
the puck in the crease behind Hedberg, but missed a wide open net.
Ovechkin had a yawning cage 5:20 into the second and didn't miss. Jason
Chimera had the puck along the right boards and found a cutting Ribeiro, who
quickly sent a pass from the slot to the left circle and a wide open Ovechkin
ripped a shot past an out of position Hedberg.
The Devils had a power play midway through the second and Steve Bernier was
taken down by Tom Poti on a breakaway. Bernier was awarded a penalty shot, but
came up empty when he tried to beat Holtby through the pads.
New Jersey then tied it with just 38 seconds left in the stanza when Kovalchuk
picked up a loose puck near the blue line, skated toward the top of the right
circle and snapped a low shot past Holtby on the stick side for his seventh
goal.
Game Notes
Ovechkin's last hat trick was Jan. 22, 2011 against Toronto ... Fehr gave
Washington its first short-handed goal of the season ... The Capitals have
scored first in seven straight games, but are just 4-3 in that stretch ...
Washington played without defenseman Mike Green for a third straight game
because of a groin injury ... The Devils had won five straight against the
Capitals... New Jersey won this season's series, 2-1 ... Devils rookie Stefan
Matteau celebrated his 19th birthday ... The Devils return to New Jersey on
Sunday to face Winnipeg.
The Sports Network