Photo: Mike Stobes/Getty Images

The Washington Capitals defeated the New Jersey Devils by a score of 4-1 at Prudential Center on Thursday night. The win improved the Capitals’ record to 3-0-1 this season. Goaltender Vitek Vanecek made 24 saves in the victory.

Capitals’ Lineup at Devils

Graphic: @Capitals

The Capitals did not make any lineup changes from their 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday other than in goal. Center Nicklas Backstrom missed his fourth straight game with a hip injury.

First Period

Right-wing Anthony Mantha stashed one in the net on the backhand in front of the goal after right-wing Daniel Sprong followed up an attempted pass across from behind the net after his first attempt got blocked by a Devil to open the scoring 4:14 into the game. The Capitals have scored first in each of their four games this season.

Dominating the rebounds tonight pic.twitter.com/2DGC2WbwTO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 21, 2021

After feeding captain Alex Ovechkin from the left half-wall, defenseman Dmitry Orlov followed up Ovechkin’s shot from the slot by going to the backhand and roofing the puck to the top right corner on goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood to make it 2-0 at 9:33.

Dominating the rebounds tonight pic.twitter.com/2DGC2WbwTO

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 21, 2021

The Capitals led 13-8 in shots, 7-6 in takeaways, 4-3 in blocked shots, won 77% of the draws, did not score on their lone power play, and had three giveaways while the Devils had eight in the first.

The Devils led 7-1 in hits and did not get a power play in the period.

Second Period

After intercepting a pass to Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton up top along the boards, Sprong skated in on a breakaway, deked, and beat Blackwood through the five-hole to extend the lead to 3-0 at 9:56.

Sheeeeeesh @sprong97 pic.twitter.com/1dUTiJp1Pn

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 22, 2021

The Capitals led 20-15 in shots, 10-8 in blocked shots, won 57% of the draws, had three giveaways while the Devils had 12, and failed to score on their lone power play opportunity through 40 minutes.

The Devils led 13-5 in hits through two.

Both teams earned seven second-period shots and 11 takeaways in the first two periods.

#Caps lead 3-0 after 40 from Newark. Vanecek has yet to allow a goal in the first 40 in three starts now, stopping 43 of 43 shots in the process. #CapsDevils

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) October 22, 2021

Third Period

Center Evgeny Kuznetsov whacked one in from down low glove-side after right-wing Tom Wilson got the puck out of Devils defenseman Ryan Graves’ hands to make it 4-0 9:16 into the third. The assist was Wilson’s fifth this season (including third primary one, which leads the Capitals). Kuznetsov earned his third multi-point game and his eight points are tied for the most he has ever had through four games in a season (2017-18: eight assists).

Knock knock it’s Kuzy! pic.twitter.com/I5te1yPGeM

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 22, 2021

Center Jane Kuokkanen wristed one past through the legs of Vanecek from the slot on a broken play during a man advantage with 6:42 left.

The Capitals led 27-25 in shots, 17-9 in blocked shots, won 56% of the draws, had six giveaways while the Devils had 13, and failed to score on three power plays.

The Devils led 10-7 in third-period shots, 15-12 in takeaways, 18-11 in hits, and scored on their lone man advantage opportunity.

Next game: vs. Calgary Flames on Saturday (1 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally, NHL Network nationally)

By Harrison Brown