(Updated: CHANGE 5TH graph: Jagr brought New Jersey …)
Devils 5, Capitals 4 (OT): Defenseman Andy Greene scored 43 seconds into overtime as visiting New Jersey erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to improve to 3-0-1 in its past four games.
Jaromir Jagr scored his 694th career goal to tie Hall-of-Famer Mark Messier for seventh place in NHL history. Jagr notched a pair of assists – including one on the final tally as his shot was denied by Braden Holtby (32 saves), but the puck caromed off Greene’s stick and into the net to end the game.
Defenseman Marek Zidlicky scored twice, Dainius Zubrus also tallied and Martin Brodeur finished with 18 saves for the Devils, who also went to overtime before dropping a 3-2 decision to Anaheim on Friday.
Captain Alex Ovechkin scored his NHL-leading 30th goal to reach that plateau for the ninth consecutive season. Joel Ward collected a goal and an assist and Jason Chimera and Mikhail Grabovski also tallied for the Capitals, who saw their three-game home winning streak come to an end.
Jagr brought New Jersey to within 3-2 at 5:28 of the third period by scoring from along the goal line for team-leading 13th goal. Ovechkin answered over 2 1/2 minutes later with a wrist shot from the slot. Zidlicky netted his second at 9:21 before Zubrus deflected Travis Zajac’s wrist shot from along the right-wing boards to forge a 4-4 tie at 11:47.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington C Nicklas Backstrom saw his five-game point streak come to an end. … Jagr has collected two goals and nine assists on his season-high seven-game point streak. … New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello told The (Newark) Star-Ledger that RW Damien Brunner will be sidelined for four weeks with a knee injury. Brunner was injured against the Ducks. … United States Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps was in attendance at the Verizon Center.
