Backstrom’s 4-point game leads Capitals past Devils

Nicklas Backstrom had two goals and two assists, and the Washington Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils 6-3 on Friday night.

Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson each had a goal and an assist as the Capitals rebounded from Monday’s 3-0 loss at Columbus, improving to 16-3-1 on the road. Jonas Siegenthaler and Richard Panik also scored, and rookie Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves.

Washington’s 26-6-5 record is currently the NHL’s best. It is the only team in the league not to lose consecutive games in regulation this season.

Kyle Palmieri, Blake Coleman and Miles Wood scored for the Devils, who were denied their first three-game winning streak of the season. Mackenzie Blackwood had 21 saves before being relieved by Gilles Senn in the third period.

The four points for Blackstrom gave him 900 in his career. He was selected by the Capitals in the first round of the 2006 draft, joining Ovechkin, who was the first overall two years earlier.

PANTHERS 7, STARS 4 >> Noel Acciari completed his second straight hat trick with a penalty shot and added an assist in Florida’s five-goal second period in the Panthers’ victory over Dallas.

Acciari had the natural hat trick in a Florida-record 3:59 span, pushing his season goals total to a careerhigh 11.

MAPLE LEAFS 6, RANGERS 3 >> William Nylander and Mitchell Marner each scored their second goal of the game early in the third period to help Toronto beat New York.

Pierre Engvall and Ilya Mikheyev also scored, and Frederik Andersen made 19 saves as Toronto won its third straight.

PENGUINS 5, OILERS 2 >> Five Pittsburgh players scored, and goaltender Tristan Jarry made 26 saves as the visiting Penguins continued their mastery of Edmonton.

Chad Ruhwedel, Joseph Blandisi, Jared McCann, Kris Letang and Brandon Tanev scored for Pittsburgh, which extended its point streak against the Oilers to 19 games (15-0-4), a franchise record and the longest active stretch in the NHL.