Vladislav Kolyachonok nets late 3rd-period go-ahead goal as Devils beat Capitals 5-2 at Prudential Center

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

NEWARK, N.J. — Vladislav Kolyachonok scored the go-ahead goal in the third period and the New Jersey Devils stayed hot with a 5-2 victory against the Washington Capitals on Thursday at Prudential Center. The win improved the Devils’ record to 14-6-0 as they moved within reach of season momentum, having won six of their past seven games entering the contest.

Kolyachonok’s presence in New Jersey marked his season debut after he was recalled from Utica of the American Hockey League on Thursday. The defenseman had signed a one-year, one-way free agent contract with the Devils on July 1. In goal, Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves and is 6-0-0 since being traded from the Winnipeg Jets to New Jersey on Oct. 23.

Offensively, Evan Rodrigues contributed a goal and an assist for the Devils, while Lenni Hameenaho and Stefan Noesen also scored. Arseny Gritsyuk added two assists as New Jersey built a lead it would not relinquish after taking control in the third period.

Washington received goals from Ryan Leonard and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Logan Thompson made 24 saves for the Capitals, whose record fell to 10-7-0 after winning their previous two games. The Devils’ scoring stretch at home included their seventh straight home win, matching the pace of the franchise’s longest home streaks in Kansas City Scouts/Colorado Rockies/Devils history.

The Devils took the lead 1-0 early in the first period when Rodrigues scored a power-play goal at 2:20. Timo Meier set up the chance by skating down the left wing before passing to Rodrigues for a snap shot from the right face-off circle. Leonard answered for Washington at 14:10 with a power-play goal that tied the game 1-1, finishing from the slot off a backhanded attempt. The play featured Cole Hutson shielding the puck just over the blue line before threading a pass through two defenders to Leonard.

Washington regained the lead 2-1 in the second period as Pierre-Luc Dubois scored at 2:11. Dubois fired a snap shot along the ice from the right circle and beat Hellebuyck inside the left post. The Capitals’ lead held until 9:51 of the second, when Lenni Hameenaho evened the score 2-2 with a net-front deflection. Brenden Dillon took the initial shot from the top of the left circle before Hameenaho redirected the puck.

Hameenaho, like Kolyachonok, was also recalled from Utica and made his season debut for New Jersey. Noesen’s scoring impact came after Washington stayed close, because Kolyachonok restored New Jersey’s advantage in the third period. At 6:27, the defenseman scored from the right point with a wrist shot that got through a screen and trickled past Thompson, making it 3-2.

Stefan Noesen pushed the Devils’ lead further to 4-2 at 17:07 with a backhand goal on a breakaway. Noesen was recalled from Utica on Wednesday after missing the previous 11 games, giving New Jersey additional scoring depth in the closing stages. Jack Hughes then added an empty-net goal at 19:15 to seal the 5-2 final.

With the result, the Devils extended their streak on home ice to seven consecutive wins and continued a broader run of recent success. The Capitals, meanwhile, saw their two-game winning streak end as the Devils’ defensive and goaltending performance limited Washington to 2 goals on 26 combined shots from their starting attack.

Kolyachonok’s go-ahead goal and New Jersey’s ability to convert special-teams opportunities shaped the outcome, with power-play scoring by Rodrigues and Leonard accounting for the first two goals of the game before Washington’s lead and tie were answered by Hameenaho and then Kolyachonok. The Devils finished with balanced contributions across their lineup, supported by Hellebuyck’s 26-save effort.