NHL : A Fast Start, for a Change, Gives Capitals Easy Victory

Instead of saving the best for last, the Washington Capitals tried a different approach Friday.

Al Iafrate, Dale Hunter and Alan May scored in the opening 6:08 to propel the Capitals past the New Jersey Devils, 9-2. Washington took a 4-0 lead after 12 minutes and coasted to its most lopsided victory of the season.

In the previous two games, the Capitals rallied to tie the Philadelphia Flyers and beat the New York Rangers. It was a much easier task against the Devils--quite by design.

“The emphasis was on coming out and having a good first period,” Coach Terry Murray said. “We haven’t really started well in the last couple of games. I told them to initiate the play, not wait until the third period and react to the situation.”

By the time the third period rolled around, the Capitals had a 5-1 lead. New Jersey is 0-15-1 when trailing after two periods.

Goals by Alexander Semak and Scott Niedermayer were not enough to prevent New Jersey from suffering its most decisive loss of the season.

“That was the only time in 36 games that we let one get away from us,” New Jersey Coach Herb Brooks said. “For the vast majority, we have been in the hunt. Not this one.”

The misery for Brooks did not end at the final horn. During his postgame interview, he had problems with a loose false tooth.

“Does anybody have any cement?” he asked. “I tell you, when things go wrong . . .”

May had two goals for only the third time in his career and Don Beaupre stopped 31 shots for the Capitals, 7-0-1 in their last eight home games. Washington is 6-0-1 against Patrick Division opponents since Nov. 28 after starting the season 1-7--including three losses to New Jersey.