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Devils rookie Jon Merrill is congratulated by captain Bryce Salvador after scoring the overtime winner Friday night against the Oilers.

(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON -- When defenseman Jon Merrill scored the OT winner against the Edmonton Oilers Friday night at Prudential Center, the Devils became only the second team to have two rookie blue liners score overtime goals for the same team in the same season.

Eric Gelinas scored in overtime against Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers on Dec. 7 at Madison Square Garden.

Merrill's winner, which happened to be his first NHL goal, came against Ilya Bryzgalov of the Oilers.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, the only other NHL team to have two rookie defensemen score in overtime the same season was the 2005-06 Coyotes. Keith Ballard and Zbynek Michalek scored for Phoenix that season.

Merrill also became the first player in Devils history to score his first career goal in overtime, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

The Devils, who will face the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center Saturday night, did not have a morning skate.

Cory Schneider will be in goal against the Caps in an 8 p.m. game that will be the Devils' last before the Olympic break.