In what was Brenden Dillon’s 900th career NHL game, New Jersey fell just short. The Devils did get a point, but they fell to the Capitals 6-5 in overtime. It was a back and forth affair that was filled with thrilling hockey.
Game Recap
First Period
It was a pretty strong start for the Devils early going. They were buzzing around the net and eventually scored the first goal. On a harmless shot by Erik Haula alongside the boards, the puck found its way through the five hole of Logan Thompson. After that, it was all Capitals the rest of the way.
After a bad breakdown at the blue line, the Capitals skated inside the zone two-on-one and Tom Wilson tied the game at one. The second goal was an unfortunate bounce, as a Jakob Chychrun shot took a bounce and found the stick of Connor McMichael for the goal.
To end the period, a John Carlson shot took two bounces and one off Alexander Ovechkin for his first of the season. In what was a good start, turned into a 3-1 deficit for the Devils.
While the period had its series of unfortunate bounces, the Devils got crunched by the Capitals. The Capitals held the edge in shot attempts (26-15) and outshot the Devils 15-8. The Devils didn’t just give up the quantity of shots but also the quality. The Capitals controlled the attempts in the high danger area (7-3) and controlled the expected goals share 1.18-0.62.
Second Period
The captain put his team on his back to begin the period. Nico Hischier scored two goals in 12 seconds to tie the game at three. After a great forechecking effort by Stefan Noesen and Tomas Tatar, Nico Hischier ripped a shot past Thompson to cut it to 3-2. Seconds later, after a turnover created by Timo Meier, Hischier snapped a shot short side and top shelf that sent Prudential Center into a frenzy.
The back-and-forth pace continued and the Capitals responded. After another defensive breakdown, Andrew Mangiapane snuck behind the defense and score on a breakaway. Dylan Strome added more salt to the wound. After a good keep in by van Riemsdyk, a shot was deflected by Strome which resulted in a two-goal lead and that’s how the period would end at 5-3.
As far as quantity went, the Devils fought back and had a much better period. They closed the gap in shot attempts and shots on goal. However, Washington still had the quality, controlling the expected goals share (1.05-0.81) and pushed their way into the high danger areas. Regardless, It was a better period than the first for the Devils.
Third Period
Like every other period in this game, the Devils found the back of the net first. Off a great passing sequence, Nico Hischier found Dawson Mercer with a cross-ice pass and he buried it to cut the lead to 5-4. And once again, this game would be tied. On the power play, a Dougie Hamilton slap shot took a bounce and made its way past Thompson.
The horn sounded and the Devils got a much earned and deserved point. The Devils pushed back and clawed for that extra point. As a team, they held the edge in shot attempts, scoring chances, and for the first period, controlled the expected goals share. It was the type of response they needed after the way the second period ended.
Overtime
The overtime period had good pace to it. Each team traded chances, but it was the Capitals who scored the game winning goal. For his second of the game, Tom Wilson sniped a shot off the post past Markstrom to secure the two points.
Game Notes
- The captain led by example in this game. The Devils were dominant when he was on the ice. During five-on-five play, he finished with a Corsi-for percentage (CF%) of 65.38 and the Devils heavily outshot the Capitals. The Devils had a 3-0 goal differential and Hischier had an expected goals percentage (xGF) of 81.80.
- One thing the Capitals did the two games prior was generate high-quality chances. Saturday night, they generated 15 shot attempts from the area, with nine making it on net. Markstrom was not the strongest in the high-danger area, as he allowed five high-danger goals.
What’s Next?
The Devils homestand continues Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
All statistics come from Natural Stat Trick.