NHL Roundup : Capitals Off to 3-0 Start, Beat Devils, 3-2

Bengt Gustafsson scored a goal and assisted on another just two minutes later in the first period Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J. to lead the Washington Capitals to a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

It was the sixth defeat in a row and the 10th in the last 11 games for the Devils, who spotted the Capitals a 3-0 lead in 25 minutes, then outplayed Washington the rest of the way.

Mel Bridgman scored both goals for the Devils in the second period. But the Devils fired nine shots at goaltender Pete Peeters in the last period and couldn’t score the tying goal.

The Capitals, who have had trouble generating an offense this season, had only eight shots on goal after Craig Laughlin scored at 4:39 of the second period.

Just 5:56 after the opening face-off, Gustafsson scored his 11th goal on a power play. Upon his return to the ice at 7:56, he set up Dave Christian for his 21st goal.

The Capitals have won three in a row.

Montreal 7, Winnipeg 3--The Canadiens broke open a tight game at Winnipeg with a four-goal burst in the third period to take sole possession of first place in the Adams Division.

Mike McPhee scored his 10th goal three minutes into the final period to break a 3-3 tie. Larry Robinson, on a power play, Lucien DeBlois and Mats Naslund also scored in the period as the Canadiens had 15 shots on goal.

Naslund, who drew an assist on Robinson’s goal to extend his point streak to 15 games, completed the scoring at 17:48 with his 27th goal of the season.

Three times, the Jets took a one-goal lead, but each time the Canadiens caught them.