To paraphrase the Grateful Dead, a friend of the New Jersey Devils is definitely not a friend of the Washington Capitals. Petr Sykora and Ryan Carter aren't helping matters.
The Devils' two goals within the final eight minutes of the period have lifted them back into a 2-2 tie with the Caps after 40 minutes.
Sykora broke Michal Neuvirth's shutout bid with a wrist shot right off the faceoff to cut the Caps' lead in half at 12:18. About six minutes later, Carter's shot alluded Neuvirth as he was heavily screened in front at 18:54.
Part of the Caps' problem was that they couldn't muster any shots. Washington only had two shots during the second period to New Jersey's six. The Caps, however, did kill off both Devils power plays.