In Newark, the Washington Capitals’ Ilya Samsonov made 19 saves in a 3-2 win over the New Jersey Devils on Sunday.
“I think for him it was a very important game mentally,” the Caps’ Alex Ovechkin said. “We tried to do our best blocking shots and play smart in the defensive zone. For a kid who didn’t play lots of games, to get a start right away and get a win, it’s very important. We’re all happy for him.”
Mikhail Maltsev and Yegor Sharangovich scored for the Devils.
“The results aren’t there for us right now but we’re going to try to continue to grow as a team, as individuals, and I think right now that’s the outlook you have to have,” New Jersey’s Kyle Palmieri said. “We’re trying to build our game into something that we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win.”
New Jersey dropped to 7-8-2, and are 1-5-0 in their last six.
Nicklas Backstrom and Jakub Vrana had goals for the Caps.
“As the game moved on, I thought he looked more comfortable,” Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought he got stronger as the game went on, and when it’s 3-2 and the game’s hanging in the balance, I actually thought that was when he was at his best.”
Ovechkin picked up the game-winner in the middle frame. 
Mackenzie Blackwood made 20 saves in the loss.
“I’ve got to do a better job; that’s the game on my stick,” Palmieri said. “Every season is going to have its ups and downs, successes and failures and, right now, maybe more failures than we would have liked. But that one’s on me. I have a chance to tie the game up there in the final seconds.”
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