Ovechkin extended his point streak to nine games (13 points; eight goals, five assists).
Connor McMichael scored two goals in his first NHL multi-goal game for the Capitals (25-21-8), their first since 16-18. January won two games in a row. Dylan Strome had a goal and two assists and Charlie Lindgren made 37 saves.
“Tonight was a very important game for us,” said Ovechkin, the Washington captain. “It was a four-point game, so to speak. We're off to a great start. [McMichael’s] line has been doing a great job out there. “Chucky” was incredible today. … And most importantly: We didn’t stop playing in the third period.”
Alexander Holtz and Erik Haula scored for the Devils (28-23-4), who have lost two of three games. Nico Daws made 20 saves on Saturday in New Jersey's first game since a 6-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“You look at missed opportunities,” New Jersey coach Lindy Ruff said. “We had a couple of rush plays, 2-on-1s, where we didn’t get any chances. You have to give them credit. When we gave them a chance, they blew it. We didn’t miss our chances.”
McMichael gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead 39 seconds into the first period, scoring on a rebound from the slot after Daws parried Aliaksei Protas' shot from the right circle.
Holtz tied the score at 1-1 at 3:06 p.m. Simon Nemec stole the puck from TJ Oshie along the left boards and passed it across the goal crease to Holtz, who redirected the puck from the back post into the goal.
McMichael gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead at 4:17 of the second period. He controlled a loose puck in the offensive zone, toeed past Tomas Nosek, evaded Nemec and then tucked the puck behind a sprawling Daws.
“I saw the goalie a little bit way out of his crease, so I just faked the shot and went around him and it just got over the line, so it was nice to see that one go in,” McMichael said.