NEWARK, N.J. — John Carlson scored at 2:17 of overtime, Braden Holtby made 22 saves and the Washington Capitals moved with grasping distance of the Presidents’ Trophy with a 1-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Carlson, playing for the first time since being shut down on Feb. 25 after aggravating a lower-body injury, took a pass from Jason Chimera and ripped a shot from the right circle that beat Scott Wedgewood.
Wedgewood, who shut out the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, had his shutout streak of 159:34 ended by the goal, which was only the second he has given up in three starts. He stopped 25 shots
The win gave Washington 111 points. It can clinch its first Presidents’ Trophy since 2009-10 with a point against the St. Louis Blues at home on Saturday night or if the Dallas Stars lose earlier in the day.
Chimera took a pass from Marcus Johansson on the winning play, circled the Devils’ net and found Carlson in the circle for his seventh goal of the season.
Holtby, who picked up his third shutout of the season and his 45th win, fought off Travis Zajac’s shot from between the circles at the start of overtime.
Wedgewood stopped a blast by Alex Ovechkin and a breakaway by defenseman Nate Schmidt, although it was unclear whether he made the save or the shot missed the net.
Holtby is three wins away from tying Martin Brodeur’s single-season record of 48 wins.
Wedgewood made his debut against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday and gave up a goal to Jared Boll at 2:43 of the second period in a 2-1 win. He shut out the Penguins, 3-0, and blanked the Capitals until the overtime.
The Capitals outshot the Devils, 19-10, over the first two periods, but they could not finish in front.
Ovechkin probably had the best chance on a first period power play, but his shot at an open net hit a player in front and missed the net.
The power play was set up when Devils defenseman Vojtek Mozik tripped Evgeny Kuznetsov with the Capitals center about to deposit a rebound into an open net.
Capitals right wing Tom Wilson also had a chance in close in the first period but couldn’t generate a shot with players around him.
The second period slowed down and there were not many good chances.
Jay Beagle of Washington hit a goal post on a break from the left circle early in the period and Capitals center Mike Richards shoved a rebound into Wedgewood’s pad midway through the period.
Holtby fought off a backhander by Adam Henrique with less than four minutes left in the second period.
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