Alex Ovechkin scored against goaltender Martin Brodeur for the first time in four years to help the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Saturday and take over as NHL leaders.
The Russian ended his nine-game drought against Brodeur when he scored early in the first period then had two assists as Matt Bradley, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Green also found a way past the Canadian netminder.
“We understand each other a lot, and you can see how we control the puck in the offensive zone and we feel pretty good and nobody can stop us,” Ovechkin said. “We have to continue playing.”
Washington’s third straight win improved their season record to 24-8-6 and lifted them to the top of the league standings, one point clear of New Jersey, the Chicago Blackhawks and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It was the first time the Capitals had managed to defeat the Devils in four attempts this season.
The Devils (26-9-1) suffered their first loss in six games despite 36 saves from Brodeur, who set the all-time record for regular season shutouts last Monday.
Rod Pelley provided the lone goal for the visitors, putting in a snap shot to cut the first period deficit to 2-1 but Backstrom answered with a backhand in the second and Green put the contest away 39 seconds into the third.
Michal Neuvirth had 29 stops for Washington as he continues to fill in for the injured Semyon Varlamov, who remains sidelined with a groin ailment.
He received great support from his stellar offense in front of him as the Capitals lead the NHL in goals per game. Ovechkin has been particularly hot of late and has three straight three-point performances.
“You look at how the game went [and] I feel that our puck control wasn’t as it used to be,” Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said.
“Special teams, we had so many power plays and I think they got more chances than we did on our power play. For me, it determined the whole game,” he said.
BLACKHAWKS 4, PREDATORS 1
In Nashville, Tennessee, Chicago maintained its lead in the Western Conference by beating Nashville.
Cristobal Huet made 25 saves, and Dustin Byfuglien, Patrick Kane, Andrew Ladd and Patrick Sharp scored for Chicago, which is level on points with San Jose atop the West, but with a game in hand.
Martin Erat scored for Nashville.
COYOTES 3, KINGS 2
In Glendale, Arizona, Phoenix held on to beat Los Angeles and notch its franchise record-equalling ninth straight home win.
Keith Yandle scored the winner with 9:20 to go, after Adrian Aucoin and Martin Hanzal also scored for the Coyotes, who matched the franchise record set in 1992-93 when the team was in Winnipeg.
Michal Handzus and Dustin Brown scored for Los Angeles.
AVALANCHE 4, STARS 1
In Denver, Colorado extended its lead in the Northwest Division to five points by defeating Dallas.
Peter Budaj made 39 saves for Colorado. Chris Stewart scored twice, Chris Durno had his first NHL goal, and Milan Hejduk also found the net.
Steve Ott scored for Dallas.
SHARKS 5, DUCKS 2
In San Jose, California, Patrick Marleau scored twice in the first period, the first his 300th career goal, as San Jose beat Anaheim.
Marleau scored the milestone goal at 2:15 of the first period, and added No. 301 on a power play. He has 25 goals this season.
Dany Heatley added his 23rd goal of the season in the second period, while Ryane Clowe and Jamie McGinn added goals for the Sharks, who extended their winning run to four.
SENATORS 3, SABRES 2, SO
In Buffalo, New York, Russia’s Alex Kovalev and Mike Fisher scored in the shootout to help Ottawa beat Buffalo for the seventh straight time.
Ryan Shannon and Chris Neil scored in regulation for the Senators, which moved within six points of the Northeast Division-leading Sabres.
Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville scored for Buffalo.
In other NHL action it was:
• Wild 4, Blues 3
• Red Wings 2, Blue Jackets 1
• Canucks 4, Oilers 1
• Lightning 4, Thrashers 3
• Canadiens 3, Maple Leafs 2, OT
• Flyers 4, Hurricanes 3, SO
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Zhang Shuai yesterday said that she nearly quit after losing 24 matches in a row — now the world No. 595 is into the quarter-finals of her home China Open. The 35-year-old is to face Spain’s Paula Badosa as the lowest-ranked player to reach this stage in the history of the tournament after Badosa reeled off 11 of the last 12 games in a 6-4, 6-0 victory over US Open finalist Jessica Pegula. Zhang went into Beijing on a barren run lasting more than 600 days and her string of singles defeats was the second-longest on the WTA Tour Open era, which
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