EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., March 2 (UPI) -- Jamie Langenbrunner scored with 33 seconds left in the third period, then set up Scott Stevens' goal 2:54 into overtime as the New Jersey Devils rallied Saturday night for a 2-1 triumph over the Washington Capitals.
Blanked for more than 59 minutes, New Jersey finally solved Olaf Kolzig to extend their unbeaten streak to five games and maintain a five-point lead over second-place Philadelphia in the NHL Atlantic Division.
In the final minute of regulation, Jeff Friesen picked off a clearing attempt by Steve Konowalchuk and barely kept the puck in the Capitals' zone. He fed Langenbrunner, whose blast from above the left faceoff circle appeared to get a piece of a Washington defender before whizzing by Kolzig's glove.
Both teams had chances in overtime before Langenbrunner - outnumbered in the left corner - came out with the puck and passed to the inside edge of the left circle. Stevens leaned into a one-timer and beat Kolzig to the stick side for his third career overtime winner.
Moments earlier, Caps defenseman Sergei Gonchar got a perfect feed from Jaromir Jagr at the left side of the net but pushed his shot just wide of the far goalpost.
Jeff Halpern scored the lone goal for Washington, which has earned points in three straight games (2
0-1) but fell into a first-place tie with Tampa Bay in the Southeast Division.
