March 11

On March 11, 2000, the Capitals beat the New Jersey Devils by a 4-2 score and also raised Dale Hunter's No. 32 sweater banner to the rafters where it will remain forever.

After the stirring pregame ceremonies which included a video tribute to the Caps' scrappy ex-captain, the puck was dropped. Washington took a 1-0 lead at 3:26 of the first when Chris Simon netted his 24th goal of the season. At 4:31 of the first, Joe Murphy scored his 10 of the season and his third as a Capital to extend the Caps' cushion to 2-0. The Devils bounced right back on Deron Quint's fourth of the season at 5:09 and Scott Gomez's 18th at 8:02. The Devils outshot the Capitals by a 15-7 margin in the period.

The second period was scoreless, with New Jersey holding a 10-7 advantage in shots. The Devils were also on the receiving end of the stanza's only power play. Caps goaltender Olaf Kolzig gave the crowd something to cheer about when he stoned New Jersey's Sergei Nemchinov on a penalty shot at 11:40.

The Caps' Ulf Dahlen beat New Jersey netminder Martin Brodeur at 1:42 of the final frame. The goal - Dahlen's 12th of the season - proved to be the game-winner. Steve Konowalchuk added his 14th into an empty net in the game's final minute to make the final 4-2, Washington. The Devils outshot the Caps in the third, 10-6 and 35-20 on the night.


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