The New Jersey Devils turned a tight game into a comfortable 5-2 NHL win over the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center in Newark, lifted by a three-goal third period in front of 15,035 fans. Shots were nearly even at 29 to 28, but New Jersey’s finishing at even strength and a steady night from Connor Hellebuyck made the difference. The three stars on the night were Evan Rodrigues, Lenni Hämeenaho, and Vladislav Kolyachonok, a trio that combined for three goals and four points.

Special teams set the tone early

Both teams struck on the power play in the first period, and both did it quickly once given a chance. Evan Rodrigues opened the scoring for New Jersey with a man-advantage goal just 2:20 into the game, set up by Timo Meier and Arseny Gritsyuk. Washington answered late in the frame when Ryan Leonard converted on the power play from Cole Hutson, leveling things at 1-1.

The Capitals actually owned more of the special-teams trench work early. First-period numbers showed Washington winning 80% of their power-play faceoffs and piling up 10 blocked shots, a big reason the Devils had only one power-play tally on three PP shots. New Jersey’s discipline held across the night with just two penalties to Washington’s three, keeping the Capitals’ power-play looks limited to two total, one of which they scored. Across the game the Devils finished 1/3 on the power play at 33%, while the Capitals went 1/2 at 50%. Power-play shot efficiency came out nearly even too, with New Jersey at 1/6 and Washington at 1/7. The special-teams stalemate set up a night where 5-on-5 quality would decide things.

Devils flip the script at even strength

The second period featured a trade of even-strength punches. Pierre-Luc Dubois nudged Washington in front 2-1, finishing off a sequence helped by Jack St. Ivany and Aliaksei Protas. New Jersey replied through Lenni Hämeenaho, who tied it 2-2 off feeds from Brenden Dillon and Cody Glass, restoring balance heading into the third.

At 5-on-5, New Jersey’s edge became clear as the game wore on. The Devils posted an 18% even-strength shot percentage across the night, scoring four times on 22 attempts. Washington, by contrast, managed just 4% with one even-strength goal on 21 attempts. Shot-share metrics offered a split picture, with New Jersey slightly ahead in Corsi at 51.1%, while Washington led Fenwick at 52.2%. That mix says the Capitals generated their fair share of unblocked looks but lacked the finish at 5-on-5, and the Devils made their best chances count. Average shot distance was essentially a wash at 12.1 to 12.4, underscoring that this was more about finishing and goaltending than pure shot location.

Third period belongs to New Jersey

The Devils won the night with a clinical third period that read 3-0 on the scoreboard. Vladislav Kolyachonok put New Jersey ahead 3-2 midway through the frame, assisted by Rodrigues, which stood up as the winner. Stefan Noesen then added insurance at 58:27, converting at even strength from Connor Brown to make it 4-2.

Washington’s bid to rally was blunted by a minor to Timothy Liljegren for tripping and by New Jersey’s efficient puck management late. With the Capitals’ net empty, Jack Hughes applied the final touch at 59:15, tucking away the empty-netter after smart work from Gritsyuk and Jesper Bratt. In the third, New Jersey went 3-for-6 at even strength shooting while Washington went 0-for-8. The Devils also edged the period in faceoffs at 52% and matched the Capitals in takeaways, all while limiting mistakes. It was a veteran-style closer in a game that had been level through 40 minutes.

Goaltending and finishing tell the story

Connor Hellebuyck’s line was a steady 26 saves on 28 shots for a .929 save percentage. He was especially sharp at even strength with a .952 mark, the kind of form that rewards a team outshooting its opponent in quality, not just volume. Logan Thompson battled hard at the other end with 24 saves on 28 shots for an .857 save percentage, and he turned away five of six on the penalty kill.

Special-teams saves were part of the tale, but the bigger gap came at 5-on-5 where New Jersey’s finishing touch and Hellebuyck’s reliability tilted the ice. Despite Washington landing more hits at 22 to 16 and more blocked shots at 18 to 10, the Devils were tidier with the puck. New Jersey committed 12 giveaways to Washington’s 21 and held a slim 4-3 edge in takeaways. The Capitals did win the faceoff battle overall at 53% to 47%, but that advantage never translated into sustained third-period pressure.

Standouts and numbers to note

Evan Rodrigues earned first star honors with 1 goal and 1 assist, a 60% faceoff win rate, and a power-play strike that launched the Devils’ night. Lenni Hämeenaho was the second star after a timely equalizer and a +1, while Vladislav Kolyachonok took third star thanks to the winner and a +2. Jack Hughes capped things with an empty-net goal, bringing a tidy finish to a game where his line had already generated chances. Arseny Gritsyuk quietly posted two helpers, one on the power play and another at even strength, while Jesper Bratt added a late assist.

For Washington, Ryan Leonard’s power-play goal and Pierre-Luc Dubois’ even-strength marker were the bright spots. Cole Hutson and Aliaksei Protas each supplied an assist, and the Capitals’ heavy defensive workload showed up in the blocks column. Alex Ovechkin finished with two shots and a -1 on a quieter night. Period splits favored New Jersey late, and the overall advanced picture confirms it. The Devils were marginally better in shot share, decisively better in 5-on-5 conversion, and cleaner with possession. It all added up to a 5-2 final that moves New Jersey to a season form of 13 wins and 6 losses, while Washington sits at 10 wins and 6 losses.

What’s next for fans

If you like to dissect games beyond the score, this one had plenty to chew on. From Corsi and Fenwick to special-teams splits and goalie save breakdowns, it’s a great case study in how finishing and late-game control swing a near-even shot count. You can follow NHL live scores, advanced stats, and highlights for both teams on Sofascore, where this matchup is already filed with full incident timelines and team metrics.