WASHINGTON – It was a game of disputed deflections and odd bounces, with the puck behaving more like that oblong ball with the laces more commonly associated with Super Bowl Sunday.

The strangest carom of all came on a simple dump-in that hit a stanchion along the glass and went into a net deserted by a befuddled goaltender.

The Pittsburgh Penguins weren’t fazed by that bit of misfortune that tied the game in the second period, just as Washington Capitals couldn’t take advantage of the stroke of luck.

The third annual Super Bowl warm-up between the Eastern Conference rivals soon turned into a rout, with Chris Kunitz getting a hat trick in the visitors’ 6-3 victory.

“I really like our team responding to that bad bounce that happened on the wall,” Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said. “Now it’s 2-2 – and our team responded well with the penalty kill and getting some goals.”

Kris Letang, Paul Martin and Matt Cooke also scored, Sidney Crosby had three assists, and Tomas Vokoun made 21 saves against his former team for the Penguins, who have won three straight and four of five to lead the Atlantic Division.

In a game that reflected both teams’ fortunes so far in the lockout-shortened season, the Penguins had the luxury of spending the postgame talking about who actually should have received credit for their half-dozen goals.

Kunitz thought he scored four instead of three, saying he got his stick on the puck to redirect Martin’s shot from the point in the first period.

And Cooke was given a redirect goal on a shot from Deryk Engelland that seemed instead to hit Capitals defenseman Jeff Schultz.

DEVILS 2, ISLANDERS 0: In Uniondale, N.Y., Johan Hedberg made 22 saves for his 22nd career shutout to help New Jersey snap a four-game winless streak (0-1-3).

Steve Bernier scored for New Jersey in the third period and David Clarkson added an empty-netter for the Devils.

PANTHERS 4, SABRES 3: In Buffalo, N.Y., defenseman Brian Campbell scored on the power play with 10:33 remaining to cap Florida’s three-goal rally.

Peter Mueller, George Parros and Shawn Matthias also scored for the Panthers, who won their first road game of the season and snapped a seven-game road drought (0-5-2) dating to last season.

CANADIENS 2, SENATORS 1: In Montreal, David Desharnais and Erik Cole scored first-period goals and Montreal held on for the victory.

The win completed a sweep for Montreal (6-2-0).