Photo: Andy Marlin/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 6-3 at Prudential Center in Newark on Friday night. The Capitals extended their lead over the New York Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division to seven points, though the Islanders now have three games in hand on the Capitals. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves in the victory.Capitals’ Lines at Devils

#Caps lines in NJ:
8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 43-Wilson
13-Vrana, 92-Kuznetsov, 77-Oshie
62-Hagelin, 20-Eller, 14-Panik
28-Leipsic, 26-Dowd, 21-Hathaway

6-Kempny, 74-Carlson
9-Orlov, 3-Jensen
34-Siegenthaler, 33-Gudas

Samsonov vs. Blackwood. #CapswDevils

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) December 20, 2019

Center Nic Dowd drew in the lineup in favor of center Travis Boyd. After their 3-0 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, that was their lone lineup change not in the crease. Captain Alex Ovechkin and center Nicklas Backstrom skated in their 900th career NHL game together.

First Period

Forward Kyle Palmeri tapped in center Nico Hischier’s feed from the side past the left toe of Samsonov to make it 1-0 Devils on the power-play four minutes in.

Forward Carl Hagelin had a chance to tie it on a penalty shot but shot it over the crux of the arm and wide of goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood after getting tripped by defenseman Sami Vatanen on a breakaway 2:09 after the Devils opened the scoring.

Ovechkin ripped one from above the right circle after Backstrom threw the puck to him once he entered the offensive zone to tie it with 1:32 left in the period. The goal marked his league-leading 16th on the road this season.

Backy to Ovi because DUH 🚨 #CapsDevils #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/0WVOc5heLf

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2019

Backstrom tipped a shot from defenseman John Carlson past Blackwood, who couldn’t see the shot with traffic in front, while cruising through the slot to make it 2-1 Capitals 70 seconds later.

You get one too, Backy! 🚨 #CapsDevils #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/LfCwBhBBFK

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2019

The Capitals led 11-6 in shots and had three giveaways while the Devils had four through 20 minutes.

The Devils led 8-5 in hits, 8-3 in blocked shots, went 1-for-2 on the power-play, and won 58% of the draws in the first.

Each team recorded two takeaways in the opening frame.

Second Period

Forward Blake Coleman tucked the puck past Samsonov on a breakaway while Backstrom was chasing him down but couldn’t catch him to tie it 4:15 into the second.

Backstrom tipped in his second of the game after defenseman Dmitry Orlov faked a shot and found him all alone in front at the doorstep to give the Capitals the lead with 29 seconds left in the period.

Backy & Forth ft. Dmitry Orlov 🚨#CapsDevils #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/AcfKczBGer

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2019

The Capitals led 23-17 in shots, including 12-11 in the second, and had six giveaways while the Devils had nine after two after two. They went 0-for-1 on the power-play in the first two periods.

The Devils led 13-6 in blocked shots, 14-7 in hits, won 58% of the draws, and went 1-for-3 on the man advantage through 40 minutes.

Each team posted two takeaways through two.

Third Period

Carlson redirected defenseman Michal Kempny’s pass from the corner in front and through Blackwood’s five hole to double the Capitals’ lead 42 seconds into the period. Backstrom earned his fourth point of the night and the 900th of his career with the secondary assist. He’s the first from the 2006 NHL Draft class to hit that mark.

Backstrom to Kempny to Carly… *chef’s kiss* #CapsDevils #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/YX20YKMgv1

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2019

Defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler wristed one past Blackwood’s glove from the point after getting a cross-ice feed from defenseman Radko Gudas to make it 5-2 6:53 in.

Siegs snipes the top corner – Carly’s a fan! #CapsDevils #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/FKLxwMji0N

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2019

Capitals defenseman Nick Jensen tumbled down to the ice immediately after dropping the gloves with Devils forward Miles Wood with 6:53 left.

Forward Richard Panik sneaked one through Blackwood’s five-hole after he hesitated for a moment once he got the puck from Carlson at the right dot to make it 6-2 with 4:27 to go.

Eller dishes it to Panik who stays patient for his 3rd of the season 🚨 #CapsDevils #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/8JC4pVJNYb

— Washington ☃️ Capitals (@Capitals) December 21, 2019

Wood tucked in defenseman Damon Severson’s pass from the slot at the side of the goal to make it 6-3 with under 30 seconds left.

The Capitals led 29-27 in shots and had only eight giveaways while the Devils had 12. They went 0-for-1 on the power-play.

The Devils led 10-6 in third-period shots, 14-10 in blocked shots, 16-13 in hits, and went 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

Each team posted six takeaways and won 50% of the draws.

The Capitals head home, where they will take on the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. Action from Capital One Arena can be seen on NBC Sports Washington locally or NHL Network nationally beginning at 7 PM ET.

By Harrison Brown