Capitals Exorcise Devils, Clinch Playoff Berth

Four different players scored goals on Day 160 to lead the Washington Capitals to a 4-3 victory over the New Jersey Devils. The two points clinches a spot in the playoffs for Washington and ups the club's record to 37-33-11. Last season the Capitals made the playoffs in the eight spot at 33-42-7. Washington is fifth in the Wales Conference, one point ahead of Philadelphia.

Mikael Renberg gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead when he scored from Bryan Berard and Rob Blake at 12:57, but the Devils answered on Mario Lemieux's tally from Tucker and Volchenkov at 16:26.

Washington regained the lead early in the middle stanza as Jonathan Cheechoo netted from Michal Rozsival and Todd Warriner. Once again New Jersey rallied to tie the game. This time it was Satan finding the net from Lemieux and Huselius at 11:49. The Capitals kept pressing, and Greg Watson made the strong play pay off when he scored his 11th of the season from Cory Sarich and Rozsival with just 36 seconds remaining.

The Devils continued to fight for their lives early in the final period. Pilar made the breakthrough for New Jersey at 4:32 when he knocked home a rebound from Huselius and Lemieux. Washington would not be denied, however, and David Vyborny notched the game-winner, his 30th of the season, from Radoslav Suchy and Dan Boyle at 7:50.

Manny Legace made 23 saves to earn the win and improve to 30-28-8. Nikolai Khabibulin stopped 23 shots in the loss and fell to 32-33-5.

The Capitals and Devils meet in New Jersey on Day 161 in the season finale for both clubs.