Devils finish trip in style

NHL teams

The Devils went 4-1 on the trip, winning in Carolina, Dallas and Colorado and suffering the only loss against Phoenix.

"We didn't really think about winning four out of five," said Brodeur. "It's the way we won the games. We played really well and we were really sharp. It's a big boost for our confidence, beating the teams out west for the first time this year."

Brodeur stopped all 22 shots for his 34th career shutout and second for the season. It was his fourth shutout vs. Washington, against whom he is 16-3-3 lifetime.

"Marty's pretty successful against a lot of teams. I don't think it's anything personal against the Caps," Devils coach Robbie Ftorek said. "He just plays steady and he plays very intense every time he steps on the ice. If his team in front of him plays well, he's not going to make many mistakes."

Washington lost their third consecutive game and fifth in the last six. The Caps played without injured stars Peter Bondra and Adam Oates.

"There's almost a look of defeat before the game starts. It's frustrating," said Washington coach Ron Wilson. "We've got a lot of injuries, but we make a lot of mistakes. I've been saying all along that you can't play in this league from behind, especially when your top offensive people are out of the lineup."