Newark, NJ (SportsNetwork. Rui Patricio Jersey .com) - Nicklas Backstrom scored a pair of goals and Alex Ovechkin notched a highlight-reel tally, leading the Washington Capitals to a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at the Prudential Center. Mike Green also scored and Backstrom added an assist for the Capitals, who have won two straight and are 6-0-2 in their last eight games. Braden Holtby needed to stop only 21 shots for his second shutout of the season. (Ovechkin and Backstrom) carried us tonight, said Capitals coach Barry Trotz. We werent as sharp as we needed to be as a group. The big guys led the way when we needed a push. Cory Schneider was back in the net for the Devils, who were coming off a 3-2 shootout win over Tampa Bay behind rookie Keith Kinkaids first NHL win on Friday night. The veteran netminder finished with 17 saves. Wed all like to be more consistent, from me on out, said Schneider. I think as a group we can all be better every night. Green put the Capitals on the board just over three minutes into the second period, blasting a shot from the top of the right circle past a screened Schneider for his fourth goal of the season. The Devils nearly tied it on a goal mouth scrum with just under four minutes left in the second, but the Capitals counter-attacked on a bad New Jersey line change and increased their advantage with 3:22 remaining in the period. Jay Beagle carried the puck into the Devils zone and left a drop pass in the left circle for Backstrom, who ripped a shot off the post and into the net for his ninth goal. The Caps killed off a New Jersey power play early in the third period and Ovechkin gave Washington a three-goal lead at the 7:16 mark with a brilliant individual effort. Ovechkin, who twice hit the post earlier in the game, picked up a loose puck at center ice along the right wing, then slipped between New Jerseys Jon Merrill and Travis Zajac at the top of the right circle before cruising toward the top of the crease and lifting a backhand over Schneider for his 15th goal. I just wanted to make a move, said Ovechkin. It was a good play. A few minutes later, Ovechkin was pulled down on a breakaway and awarded a penalty shot, but Schneider closed the pads to deny him. He was dangerous all night, said Trotz about Ovechkin. He could have had five goals. He rattled a couple off the post, drew a penalty shot, scored a highlight goal. The Devils pulled Schneider with about three minutes to play and Backstrom scored into the empty net to seal it. They were fresher than us, bigger, stronger, faster, deeper, and their best players were their best players, lamented Devils coach Peter DeBoer. Ovechkin was very good tonight, Holtby was very good and that was not a great formula for us. Game Notes Beagle finished with a pair of assists, as did Colonia, New Jersey native John Carlson ... Holtby improved to 4-1-0 with a pair of shutouts in his last five starts against the Devils ... New Jersey hasnt won consecutive games since Nov. 11-14, beating Minnesota and Washington, and last won two straight at home Oct. 30 against Winnipeg and Nov. 1 against Columbus ... The Devils fell to 2-4-2 in the second of back-to-back games ... The Capitals improved to 3-1 against New Jersey this season and will conclude the season series against the Devils on March 26 in Washington ... Washington improved to 10-5-2 on the road and 8-1-2 against Metropolitan Division opponents ... The Devils placed leading goal scorer Mike Cammalleri on injured reserve, retroactive to Dec. 13, with a lower-body injury. He is eligible to return for New Jerseys next game on Tuesday against Carolina ... Washington next plays Monday at home against Ottawa ... New Jerseys Michael Ryder, mired in a 20-game scoreless stretch, was a healthy scratch. Blank Netherland Jersey . Floyd participated in the first day of the Chargers organized team activities Tuesday. In his words, "Its good to be back out there. Im cleaned for contact. Juan Camilo Zuniga Jersey .cas NHL Play of the Year showdown continues today with two of the flithiest and unlikeliest of goals from the past season.OWINGS MILLS, Md. - During a season filled with suspensions, injuries and painful defeats, the Baltimore Ravens have calmly worked their way into the middle of the AFC playoff picture.The suspension and subsequent release of running back Ray Rice in September was merely the first of many distractions the Ravens (8-5) endured to get where they are now: a half-game behind AFC North leader Cincinnati and in strong contention for a wild-card berth.You could ask for more, but boy, its a great accomplishment to be in that position right now, coach John Harbaugh said Monday.Coming off a deflating 34-33 home loss to San Diego, Baltimore rallied from an early 10-point deficit to beat Miami 28-13 on Sunday. That was the first of four games the Ravens will play without defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, who was suspended on Thursday for using the amphetamine Adderall.Baltimores depleted secondary took another severe hit in Miami when cornerback Danny Gorrer endured a season-ending knee injury. Gorrer was signed in November to fill a secondary that was already feeling the loss of Jimmy Smith (foot), Aaron Ross (heel) and Asa Jackson (toe).The list of players who have sustained season-ending injuries includes starting tight end Dennis Pitta, Smith, Ross, defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore and even long snapper Morgan Cox. In addition, left tackle Eugene Monroe, defensive end Chris Canty and cornerback Lardarius Webb each have missed significant time with injuries.It was more of the same Sunday, when wide receiver Torrey Smith was essentially useless because of a knee injury, Gorrer went down and cornerback Anthony Levine left with a concussion.Little-used Kamar Aiken stepped in for Smith and had a career-high six catches for 65 yards and a touchdown.We have a brotherhood among receivers, Aiken said. If we have one of our guys not going or not feeling too well, were going to pick up the slack and were not going to skip a beat.The Ravens have also displayed the ability to bounce back from defeat. Paul Pogba Jersey. After losing twice to the Bengals and suffering a 43-23 embarrassment in Pittsburgh, its a wonder the Ravens arent already building for 2015.Weve got a resilient bunch, Harbaugh said. Theyre mentally tough, they dont get caught up in the noise, they dont get easily distracted. We say turn neither to the left or the right, eyes straight ahead.Harbaugh said its veterans such as Joe Flacco, Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil that keep the team on the right course.Weve got some young guys that are headed in the right direction because of the mature guys around them that are leading and showing them the way, the coach said.Harbaugh knew what kind of team he had on Sept. 11, when the Ravens beat Pittsburgh at home just two days after a video surfaced showing Rice punching his then-fiance in an elevator. The media swarmed the team facility — asking more questions about Rice than the Steelers — yet Baltimore deftly rebounded from a season-opening loss to Cincinnati.Coming up strong in Miami after blowing a 10-point lead against the Chargers was equally important.It just took a lot out of us, receiver Steve Smith said of the San Diego loss. But you cant sit there and throw a party if you won, and you cant throw a pity party if you lose. You just got to get back on the horse and just hold on.The ride in the regular season will last three more weeks, beginning at home Sunday against Jacksonville (2-11). The Ravens will reach the post-season if they win out, no small feat given what theyve gone through thus far.We could sit here and say we wish wed be another game or two better, and we could say were happy were not a game or two worse, Harbaugh said. Were pleased with the fact that were in the hunt and control our own destiny. Its just our job to make the most of it.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL cheap custom jerseys wholesale jerseys store cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
