Devils Defeat Capitals 5-2 Behind Goals From Three Recent Call-Ups

The New Jersey Devils defeated the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday in the opening game of a home-and-home series. New Jersey received offensive contributions from all three players recalled from their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, each finding the back of the net.

"It's a Utica hat trick," Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe said with a smile.

Evan Rodrigues scored the game's opening goal on the power play while he was on the second unit with Dougie Hamilton, Luke Evangelista, Timo Meier, and Arseny Gritsyuk. It was the first of two points for the 33-year-old.

With four minutes remaining on Declan Chisholm’s penalty against Aliaksei Protas, Washington tied the game with a…