482792749-2.JPG

Devils forward Patrik Elias suffered an apparent head injury after being checked hard in the first period by Washington Capitals rookie Tom Wilson.

(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

NEWARK – Playing to keep the possibility of a miracle finish alive Friday night, the Devils lost three forwards to injuries in their 2-1 win over the Washington Capitals.

Patrik Elias, Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson all were injured in a game the Devils desperately needed to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.

Elias suffered an apparent head injury and possible concussion 12:47 into the first period after being checked hard by Capitals rookie Tom Wilson and into a padded bar at the end of the Washington bench.

After being down on his knees for a couple of minutes, Elias skated off the ice on his own power and headed directly to the Devils' dressing room. He did not return.

Henrique left in the second period with an undisclosed injury, while Josefson injured a leg in the third period.

Henrique and Elias are two of the Devils' top offensive threats. Henrique leads the Devils with 25 goals, while Elias is third on the team with 51 points.

After the game, Devils coach Pete DeBoer had no medical updates on any of his injured players.

The Devils already had been playing one forward short as they opted to dress seven defensemen.

Without Elias, Henrique and Josefson, they were down to eight forwards at the end of the game. The Devils still won, as left wing Ryan Carter scored the game-winning tie late 15:06 into the third period.

"Tonight was a real gutsy effort," Devils goalie Cory Schneider said. "It was a win maybe we shouldn't have gotten, but we found a way to get it."

By winning, the Devils climbed to within three points of Columbus, 4-3 losers to Chicago on Friday night, for the last Eastern Conference wild card berth. Both teams have five games to go.

"We still have a lot of work to do, but we put our hat in the ring," Schneider said. "We're in the conversation."