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Gomez stars as Devils continue dominance over Capitals

Dec 30, 2006 - 7:02 AM EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- The Washington Capitals have not left Continental Airlines Arena with a victory in almost five years. Scott Gomez did his best to make sure the trend continued.

Gomez scored two goals and set up another and Patrik Elias added a tally and two assists as the New Jersey Devils extended their home winning streak over the Capitals to seven games with a 4-3 victory.

Winless in New Jersey since March 29, 2002, Washington grabbed the lead Friday on defenseman Lawrence Nycholat's first career goal 5 1/2 minutes into the first period. But the Devils netted the next three tallies, with Gomez sandwiching goals around one by Sergei Brylin to notch his first multi-goal effort of the season.

"It was time to pick it up a little bit," Gomez said. "As a line, we've had our opportunities, but we need to put it away. As long as we win, that's the main thing. But we have to help out. We've had our chances night in and night out, but it was time to bear down."

Defenseman Paul Martin added two assists and Martin Brodeur made 31 saves for New Jersey, which has won six in a row overall against Washington.

"They made a couple of good plays," Brodeur said. "They shoot the puck on net, they work really hard."

Nycholat also had an assist and Olaf Kolzig stopped 30 shots for the Capitals, who have dropped three straight and five of six.

"It gets tiring losing to anybody," Kolzig said. "Whether we lose to these guys or we lose to the Rangers or Montreal, it's a loss. ... They've been a solid organization for many years and obviously when you have a guy like Brodeur in net, they're a tough team to beat."

Just 5:25 into the game, Nycholat surprised Brodeur with a slap shot from the left faceoff circle that beat the two-time Vezina Trophy winner to the stick side.

"It's a pretty special thing," Nycholat said. "I'm pretty happy about it. Unfortunately, it would have been a little nicer had we won the game."

However, Gomez tied the contest with 67 seconds left in the first, completing a give-and-go with Elias with a shot from the bottom of the right circle that found the top left corner of the net.

Brylin put New Jersey ahead for good at 6:22 of the second by jamming in a backhander from in front. Gomez made it 3-1 with 6:29 to go in the period, knocking a rebound in the crease past Kolzig.

"It wasn't to be," Kolzig said. "They're an opportunistic team, they capitalized on some rebounds. We can't hang our heads."

Brooks Laich cut the deficit to one with a power-play goal later in the session, but Elias scored his 14th of the season on a shot from the left side of the net at 6:43 of the third to restore the Devils' two-goal bulge.

"It's a tough angle, but Patrik's a pretty good shooter," New Jersey coach Claude Julien said. "Players like him find a way to put those in, and that's what he did tonight."

Alexander Semin netted his 17th tally in the final minute for Washington.