EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The New Jersey Devils extended one unbeaten streak and ended another Saturday with a 3-1 victory over the Washington Capitals.
Martin Brodeur fell four minutes shy of a shutout for New Jersey, which scored twice in the second period and improved to 3
1 in their last four games following a 1-6-2-1 stretch.
Defenseman Sergei Gonchar scored the lone goal for Washington, which had its unbeaten run snapped at four games (3
1).
Second-period goals by Sergei Brylin and defenseman Brian Rafalski staked the Devils to a 2-0 lead, and Scott Gomez made it a three-goal advantage 6:28 into the third.
The shots were few and far between for the Capitals, who finished with just 19. They went more than 12 minutes without one before Gonchar snapped Brodeur's shutout bid.
Gonchar kept a clearance attempt in at the right point and flipped the puck on net through traffic and past Brodeur for his 10th goal--the most among NHL defensemen.
Brodeur improved to 12-11-3 this season and 20-9-3 lifetime against Washington. He also recorded the 298th win of his career.
Just 64 seconds into the second period, Brylin put home a rebound in front for his third goal of the season. The puck had caromed off the right leg of Caps defenseman Joe Reekie on a hard shot by Bobby Holik from the right faceoff circle.
Almost six minutes later, Rafalski gained the blue line on the left side, showed patience and took a wrist shot through the legs of Caps defenseman Sylvain Cote and over the shoulder of goaltender Olaf Kolzig.
Scott Gomez, who has struggled offensively, scored his second goal of the campaign on a 2-on-1 he started with Andreas Salomonsson. Gomez chipped the puck past Capitals defenseman Brendan Witt and raced down the middle of the ice when Salomonsson found him in front of the crease.
Kolzig, visibly upset after allowing the goal, stopped 19 shots and dropped to 12-12-2.
