Match Summary
Well, that was something. That’s really all that can be said of the New Jersey Devils’ 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Washington Capitals last night. A lot of things went wrong, some of them weren’t entirely the Devils’ fault, but let’s just dive into what happened.
First Period
The first period was tough to watch. After getting some nice offensive chances to start the game, things unraveled quickly for New Jersey. First, they let up an Anthony Mantha goal off a bad play in the Capitals’ zone. It all went downhill from there, three out of the four lines played extremely sloppy and Dimitry Orlov potted another for the Capitals. The Devils went into the first intermission demoralized as a team could be.
Second Period
The second period wasn’t quite as bad as the first, though the red-shirts did let in a Daniel Sprong goal to make the score 3-0 in favor of the Capitals. Other than that, the Devils got quite a bit of offensive pressure and more than a few quality chances. The difference-maker? Vitek Vanecek, who stood tall in net and very nearly got the shutout.
Third Period
The third period wasn’t much different from the second, though the Devils did end up getting a garbage-time goal (not before an Evgeny Kuznetzov goal, however). Nevertheless, the Devils showed resilience and hustle (not to mention good passing) late in the game.
Results
Overall, it was a disappointing game for the Devils, but, in Steve Cangialosi’s words, you can’t go 82-0. It would have been a tough ask to beat Washington on a good night, but add the Devils’ injuries to the mix, and it near-impossible.
With that win, the Capitals now own a record of 3-0-1, good for first in the Metropolitan Division, and the Devils hold a record of 2-1-0.
Keys to the Game
Ruff’s Poor Judgement
Lindy Ruff’s questionable decision-making last night undoubtedly played a role in the Devils’ 4-1 defeat. On the defensive end, he played Christian Jaros instead of Colton White, forcing Damon Severson to play on the left-side, which isn’t his natural position. The result? The Anthony Mantha goal seen above.
In addition, on the offensive end, Ruff’s adjusted lines (due to Jack Hughes’ dislocated shoulder) did not mesh well, creating the sloppiness that plagued the team. After the first period, the coach did switch around the lines to some improvement, though the sloppiness was prevalent throughout the game.
Vitek Vanecek
Of course, it goes without saying that the goaltender who only allowed one goal was a key factor in the Capitals’ victory. He came close to a shutout and would have had one if not for Janne Kuokkanen’s late goal. Other than that, he was solid, shutting down the Devils offense that was buzzing at some points.
Up Next
The Devils will face off against the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow at 7:00 PM ET.