Parise scores lone shootout goal as Devils down Capitals

VIDEO PLAYLIST

• Devils Top Caps In Shootout

WERE YOU THERE?

Did you attend this game? If so, start chronicling your sports memories today with ESPN's Sports Passport. Enter the games you attend, upload your photos and share your memories! I was there »

Game Information

Arena: Verizon Center Location: Washington, DC

Referees: Marc Joannette, Chris Rooney Linesmen: Lonnie Cameron, Mark Pare

Attendance: 17,904 (95.9% full)

Team Stat Comparison
238	Goals	268
207	Goals Against	240
58	Power Play Goals	85
65	Power Play Goals Allowed	75
12	Shorthanded Goals	7
4	Shorthanded Goals Allowed	11
1058	Penalty Minutes	1041
13	Average Penalty Minutes	13

Scoring Summary
1ST PERIOD			NJD	WAS
5:04		Alexander Semin Assists: Sergei Fedorov, Shaone Morrisonn	0	1
12:48		Petr Vrana Assists: Patrik Elias, Johnny Oduya	1	1
2ND PERIOD			NJD	WAS
12:18		Mike Green (Power Play) Assists: Brooks Laich, Alex Ovechkin	1	2
3RD PERIOD			NJD	WAS
10:34		Zach Parise (Power Play) Assists: Jamie Langenbrunner, Patrik Elias	2	2
11:42		Andy Greene Assists: Zach Parise, Jamie Langenbrunner	3	2
14:49		Alexander Semin Assists: John Erskine, Jeff Schultz	3	3
OT			NJD	WAS
No scoring this period			3	3
Shootout Summary
	Michael Nylander shootout attempt against Martin Brodeur with a Wristshot results in a SAVE.
	Zach Parise shootout attempt against Brent Johnson with a Backhand results in a GOAL.
	Alexander Semin shootout attempt against Martin Brodeur with a Wristshot results in a SAVE.
	Patrik Elias shootout attempt against Brent Johnson with a Wristshot results in a SAVE.
	Alex Ovechkin shootout attempt against Martin Brodeur with a Wristshot results in a SAVE.

WASHINGTON -- The New Jersey Devils' patience on offense was rewarded -- with a third-period comeback and a dominating performance in a shootout.

Zach Parise scored the lone shootout goal and Martin Brodeur made three saves in the tiebreaker, leading the Devils to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday night.

Fast Facts

• New Jersey improved to 6-1-0 in its last seven games at Washington and 4-1-0 on the season with the shootout win.

• The Devils scored more than two goals in a game for the first time this season, snapping the Capitals' three-game win streak in the process.

• Washington got a pair of goals from Alexander Semin, his second multigoal game this season, in the loss.

-- ESPN research

Parise, the first Devils shooter in the extra session, lifted a backhander past Brent Johnson. Brodeur blocked Michael Nylander's attempt in front, used his stick to stop Alexander Semin and foiled Alex Ovechkin's wrist shot on the Capitals' final attempt.

In the third period, Parise scored and set up another goal to give New Jersey a 3-2 lead after the Devils had been repeatedly thwarted by Johnson, who finished with 34 saves.

"It's a great sign," said New Jersey's Patrik Elias, who became the franchise's career leader in assists with his first of two on the night. "It's a good sign we can score goals when we have to. A team like that, you cannot give them too many opportunities."

Semin had two goals for Washington, which lost for the first time in four games since dropping its season opener Oct. 10 in Atlanta. Mike Green also scored.

Petr Vrana scored in his NHL debut for the Devils, who finished 3-1 on a four-game road trip. Elias picked up his 365th assist on the goal, moving ahead of Scott Niedermayer and into the top spot on New Jersey's list.

"I think it's great," Elias said. "It means I'm doing something right. It's amazing I'm passing a defenseman, but Scotty is a great player. ... It's a great milestone, but hopefully I can add a few more."

Parise and Andy Greene scored third-period goals for the Devils, who weren't frustrated after watching Johnson sweep pucks away and gobble up shots without giving up rebound chances.

"We did a good job of [killing penalties] in the second period and that gave us some momentum," New Jersey's Jamie Langenbrunner said. "We were doing a lot of good things and we talked a lot out there about the good things we were doing."

As soon as the Devils controlled the puck and shut down the middle of the ice, inhibiting the Capitals' passing attack, the game swung in New Jersey's favor.

"They're a very good defensive team and they make it tough on us to make plays in the neutral zone," Green said. "Once we get in their zone, they're always in your face and they make it very hard for you to make passes and plays where we kind of thrive off moving the pick."

Washington converted a two-man advantage midway through the second period to take a 2-1 lead. Green sneaked down the inside edge of the left circle to bat in a nice drop pass from Brooks Laich at 12:18.

Parise was in the middle of New Jersey's third-period rally. With Chris Clark off for tripping, he tied it with 9:26 remaining on a shot at the right post. Just 1:08 later, he set up Greene's goal from the left point with a long centering pass from behind the net.

Semin was credited with his team-leading sixth goal with 5:11 left when his right-side drive caromed off the chest of defenseman Mike Mottau's chest and past Brodeur.

Game notes
New Jersey scratched RW Brian Rolston (ankle), and the Capitals played without D Tom Poti (groin), C Viktor Kozlov (leg) and RW Donald Brashear (hand). ... Washington lost for the first time in three home games. ... Hall of Famer Ray Bourque was in attendance to watch the season debut of his son, Capitals LW Chris Bourque. After the game, the younger Bourque was reassigned to AHL Hershey.