The New Jersey Devils entered the second period with a sense of urgency and scored early to tie the game. What they didn't expect was the Capitals of old looking for a reason to break out. Washington scored three straight goals in the second period to lead 4-1 after 40 minutes.
The Devils would tie the game early in the second period on their second power play opportunity. After the Capitals failed to get the puck out of the zone several times, Jamie Langenbrunner found Patrik Elias alone at the right faceoff circle. Elias fired a wrist shot that former Capitals Dainius Zubrus deflected in for his fifth goal of the season at 4:56.
Jay Beagle would take the lead back for Washington exactly halfway through the period after David Steckel crashed the net and fired a shot on net. Beagle would stuff in the rebound at 10:00 to give the Capitals a 2-1 lead.
Jason Chimera made it 3-1 less than three minutes later on a breakaway. Devils defenseman Mark Fayne tried dragging Chimera down and the referee called a penalty, but Chimera finished the shot on a top shelf goal past Martin Brodeur.
John Carlson scored on his hometown team for the second time this season on a slap shot from the point at 16:31. Alex Ovechkin rushed into the zone and fanned on a wrist shot, but Carlson was there to pick up the loose puck.