The Devils seek to avenge their disappointing home opener loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs by playing spoiler against the Washington Capitals in their home opener Saturday Night at 7 p.m. ET.
In their first defeat of the season, three glaring issues emerged: poor goaltending, missed opportunities on the power play, and the underwhelming performance of their star player, Jack Hughes.
Jacob Markstrom endured a rough outing on Thursday night, finishing with a .818 save percentage, 4.14 goals-against average, and a -2.17 goals saved above expected according to MoneyPuck.
Markstrom will aim to rebound with a stronger performance.
The inability to capitalize on power play opportunities can haunt a team, and the Devils learned this lesson the hard way.
They converted on 1-of-5 chances while having the man advantage, often trying to make too many extra passes instead of firing shots on net. They need to play a more simple game especially when they get these chances.
After undergoing shoulder surgery in the offseason, Jack Hughes has struggled to make an impact in the first three games of the season. Aside from a two-assist performance against the Buffalo Sabres in their second game, he has been largely absent from the scoring sheet.
The Devils’ success hinges on how good their top guy is playing. He is due for a big game.
This will be the Capitals first game of the season, meaning they will be fresh and hungry out of the gate. It’s crucial for the Devils to neutralize Alexander Ovechkin as he embarks on his 20th season with the Capitals.
To get back in the win column, the Devils must avoid falling behind early once again.
