NEWARK, N.J. _ It's all part of the same package, but rather than wanting his team to embrace the bigger challenge of being in the thick of the Metropolitan Division playoff race, Devils coach John Hynes needs to know his team can compete with the Capitals.
"We haven't really given them a game yet so, to me, it's not so much about all those other future things," Hynes said prior to faceoff on Thursday night. "The last time we played them they just outskated us and outcompeted us all over the rink. I'd just like to make sure we show up."
The Devils certainly did in a 4-3 overtime win at Prudential Center, even if it came against an opponent coming off its bye week and only with the benefit of Thursday's morning skate after the Capitals' planned practice on Wednesday was cancelled because of weather-related delays in their travel to New Jersey.
Taylor Hall broke free for the winner in three-on-three play just 34 seconds into overtime.
The second-place Devils (24-12-8) moved within four points of the first-place Capitals (28-14-4) in the Metropolitan Division. The Capitals, who had won the first two games against the Devils this season by 5-2 scores, still have an 8-0-2 streak against the Devils.
Keith Kinkaid made 16 saves for the Devils, who were 5 for 5 on the penalty kill.
"Obviously, we want to get to the playoffs this year and part of that is playing big games each and every day," Kinkaid said. "It's a big test for us."
Kinkaid was making starting consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 20-27 after making 25 saves in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Islanders at Barclays Center with Cory Schneider unable to dress because of a stomach illness. Schneider served as Kinkaid's backup on Thursday.
Braden Holtby stopped 28 shots for the Capitals, who had won six of their last seven but had been idle since a 4-3 win at Carolina this past Friday.
Brett Connolly, taking Evgeny Kuznetsov's feed for his second goal of the game, tied the game at 3 at 16:12 of the third period.
Ex-Capital Marcus Johansson sprung Drew Stafford for a breakaway backhander to give the Devils a 1-0 lead at 8:01 of the first period, Stafford's second goal in three games after a seven-game stint as a healthy scratch.
But Connolly tied it at 1 at 12:10 of the first, getting free for an easy tap-in at the right post with T.J. Oshie setting up the play at the left point.
Kinkaid, who allowed a goal either in the first minute or on the opponent's first shot in four of his last five starts, including to Anders Lee on Tuesday, did smother Connolly's wide-open blast from the slot just 30 seconds into the game.
Captain Andy Greene, getting to the right post, made it 2-1 at 3:33 of the second period as defense partner Sami Vatanen, playing in his 300th career regular-season game, notched his 100th career assist on the play.
Vatanen then helped spring Miles Wood for a breakaway as the Devils went ahead 3-1 at 10:55 of the second period. But defenseman Dmitry Orlov, with a slap shot from the left circle, cut the Capitals' deficit back to 3-2 just 14 seconds later.
The Devils wound up playing a 17-minute stretch without Brian Boyle when the center stood up to the Capitals' Tom Wilson at 8:33 of the second period after Wilson had leveled Brian Gibbons along the left boards. Boyle would up with two minutes for instigating and a 10-minute misconduct into addition to his fighting major.
