NHL: New Jersey 5, Washington 0

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WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- Johan Hedberg picked up his third shutout of the season Friday and Zach Parise had a hat trick in sending the New Jersey Devils past Washington 5-0.

The Devils ended a four-game losing streak and gave themselves some room over Washington in the chase for the final playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey moved past Ottawa into a tie with Philadelphia for the fifth best record in the conference. Washington is in ninth place and failed in a bid to climb over Winnipeg into a playoff position.

Parise's hat trick was the second of his career and lifted his goal total for the season to 27.

He opened the scoring on the power play 11:29 into the game, added a goal late in the first period and tallied again early in the second.

Dainius Zubrus and Patrick Elias scored the other New Jersey goals.

Hedberg has 20 shutouts in his 11-year career, the last two seasons having been spent with the Devils.

Michal Neuvirth stopped only 15-of-20 shots for the Capitals, who had won their previous four games.