Kolyachonok scores go-ahead goal, Hellebuyck makes 26 saves as Devils beat Capitals 5-2

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Vladislav Kolyachonok scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and Connor Hellebuyck made 26 saves as the New Jersey Devils beat the Washington Capitals 5-2 on Thursday night in the first of a two-game set.

Kolyachonok’s shot trickled past Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson at 6:27. It was the first game in a Devils uniform for the 25-year-old defenseman, who signed in July as a free agent. He was in the lineup in place of the injured Johnathan Kovacevic.

Evan Rodrigues, Lenni Hameenaho, Stefan Noesen and Jack Hughes also scored for the Devils, who have won seven straight home games. Hellebuyck returned to the ice after the Devils held him out of Tuesday's loss at Winnipeg, the team that traded him to New Jersey last month.

Hellebuyck was booed by Jets fans and said incidents involving his family had prompted his demand to be traded. He has won his first six starts with New Jersey.

The Devils are 12-3-0 in their last 15 games and 9-2-0 overall at Prudential Center.

Ryan Leonard and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the Capitals, who had their two-game winning streak stopped. Thompson stopped 24 shots.

Rodrigues opened the scoring on the power play 2:20 into the first. Leonard tied it on the power play later in the period.

Dubois put the Capitals ahead early in the second. Hameenaho knotted the score 2-2 with his first goal this season, deflecting Brendan Dillon's shot past Thompson.

Noesen scored at 17:07 of the third, and Hughes had an empty-netter.

The Devils, who missed the playoffs last season, are second in the Metropolitan Division with 28 points.

The teams play again Saturday in Washington.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) reacts after scoring a goal against New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton (7) plays the puck in front of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) and Washington Capitals right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Washington Capitals right wing Ryan Leonard (9) scores a goal against New Jersey Devils goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) and defenseman Luke Hughes (43) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils' Evan Rodrigues celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Washington Capitals during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New Jersey Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon, right, is congratulated by Jesper Boqvist (70) and Lenny Hameenaho (29) after scoring against the Washington Capitals during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Brayden Schenn had a goal and two assists, Victor Eklund scored for the fourth straight game, and the New York Islanders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

Matthew Schaefer scored in his 100th NHL game, Simon Holmstrom had a goal and an assist, Bo Horvat scored a late empty-netter, and the Islanders picked up at least a point for the third straight game. Ilya Sorokin made 26 saves.

Trevor Moore and Quinton Byfield scored, and Kevin Fiala had an assist in his season debut as the Kings lost their third straight game. Playing in his 500th career game, Darcy Kuemper made 16 saves.

Schaefer and Eklund, two of the Islanders’ young cornerstones, came up with key contributions while each picking up a point for the fourth straight game.

Schaefer had a power-play goal to put New York back up 2-1 midway through the first period, his 29th career goal and 77th point at the century mark of games played. Schaefer moved up to fourth in career points by a teenage defenseman, behind Hall of Famers Phil Housley (132) and Ray Bourque (79) and Buffalo Sabres star Rasmus Dahlin (84).

Eklund made it 3-1 early in the second period, becoming the third New York rookie to score in four straight games in the past 20 years and 11th overall.

Fiala played for the first time since breaking his left leg at the Milan Cortina Olympics in February, but the offensive-minded winger’s presence could not enough to get the Kings back on track. Fiala did have the secondary assist on Byfield’s power-play goal, which marked the 300th helper of his career.

Islanders: At Anaheim on Saturday.

Kings: Host Calgary on Saturday.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) scores past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Los Angeles Kings left wing Trevor Moore (12) checks New York Islanders defenseman Ben Hutton (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) celebrates his goal with the bench during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the New York Islanders, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin (30) blocks a shot by Los Angeles Kings right wing Alex Laferriere (14) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

New York Islanders center Brayden Schenn (10) celebrates his goal with right wing Mitchell Chaffee (26), left wing Matias MacCelli (63), and defenseman Adam Pelech (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)