The New Jersey Devils faced the Washington Capitals in a Metropolitan Division matchup on Saturday, and they took home the win, 3-2. It was quite a game for the Devils, as they also beat the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday.
As the first period commenced, Devils captain Nico Hischier won the first face-off of the night against Nic Dowd. The puck went to Luke Hughes roughly 20 seconds into the period, but he slipped away from it and gave it off. Despite this, the Devils were still able to clear the puck from their end and bring it back to the opposing team’s net. The Capitals defense fought extremely hard, as the Devils were forceful and robust.
Multiple shots made by the Devils were blocked by the Capitals’ defense and their goaltender Charlie Lindgren. Tom Wilson received a delayed two-minute minor for high-sticking Jack Hughes at the 15:35 mark of the first period. Stefan Noesen picked up a two-minute minor for hooking John Carlson at 15:16.
With 6:08 left in the first, the Capitals scored first on a wrist shot by Matt Roy, assisted by Rasmus Sandin and Hendrix Lapierre. Over a minute later, Nic Dowd received a two-minute minor for hooking against Dougie Hamilton. The Devils would finally find the back of the net and tie the game with a power play goal from Tomas Tatar as Erik Haula and Luke Hughes assisted on the opening goal for the Devils.
At 12:52, the first goal of the second period was a wrist shot by Devils defenseman Brenden Dillon. This was Dillon’s first goal of the season and his first as a Devil, breaking the tie and giving the Devils a 2-1 lead. At the 11:04 mark of the period, Devils defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic and Capitals right winger Brandon Duhaime receive five-minute major penalties for fighting. The Devils extended their lead after a snap-shot goal by Dougie Hamilton. His goal was assisted by Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier, bringing the game to 3-1.
The third period commenced, and Hischer again won the face-off against Dowd. Paul Cotter receives a delayed penalty at 16:18 in the third for slashing against Taylor Raddysh (two-minute minor). Washington scored their final goal of the night by Connor McMichael, bringing the game to 3-2 at 15:06 in the third. Not much to say about the third period; the Devils and Capitals went back and forth. Both teams are taking multiple shots on goal. With seconds remaining in the third, the Capitals missed four shots on Jake Allen, and Dawson Mercer and Nico Hischier blocked two more shots to close out the third period and a Devils’ win.
Jake Allen was phenomenal in net for New Jersey. Allen made 23 saves and kept the Devils in the game throughout in just his seventh start of the season. So far this year, he picked up two shutouts.
New Jersey will host the Nashville Predators on Monday at 7 p.m. in Newark, looking to extend its winning streak.
