The Washington Capitals fell to the New Jersey Devils 2-1 (SO) Tuesday night at Verizon Center. The loss dropped the Capitals record to 20-9-5. The Capitals next travel to Newark, New Jersey for a rematch with the Devils Saturday afternoon at Prudential Center. Puck drop is 1:00PM. 

Jakub Vrana was a healthy scratch for the first time since being called up from Hershey.

Taylor Chorney was the other healthy scratch.

Braden Holtby got the start in net for the Capitals. Keith Kinkaid would get the start for the Devils.

The Devils were also without the services of Taylor Hall for this game.

QUICK NOTES

• The Capitals penalty kill continues to be very strong (also scored Caps lone goal), but the power play has continued to slump.
• Capitals 4th line of Winnik, Beagle and Wilson had a very good game.
• Evgeny Kuznetsov’s careless, no-look pass in the offensive zone set up the Devils goal.
• The Capitals offense struggled throughout most of the first two periods of play, but showed some signs of life at the tail end of the second period.
• The Devils Keith Kinkaid had a stellar game in goal, stopping 39 of 40 shots in regulation.
• The Capitals struggles in the shootout continue to plague the team. The Caps are now 1-4 in shootouts this season, and 0-4 with Holtby in net.
• Capitals have now dropped four of their last five games, and lost two consecutive games to the Metropolitan Division’s last place team (Islanders, Devils).

FIRST PERIOD
A fairly pedestrian start to the last home game of 2016, with the Devils leading in shots on goal, 2-1, through the first five minutes of play. Both teams would come up empty on their first power play opportunities of the game, occurring midway through the frame. The Caps would let a second man-advantage fall by the wayside as the first period would end up scoreless. The Caps led in shots on goal 14-8 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Devils would quickly light the lamp early in the middle frame on a goal by PA Parentaeau at 1:05. The goal was setup by a careless pass by Evgeny Kuznetsov.

The Capitals offense would continue to struggle throughout the middle frame. The forecheck did show some signs of coming around at the end of the middle frame. The second period ended with the Devils leading 1-0.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would tie the game on a short-handed goal by Daniel Winnik at 3:50 of the final frame. This was the Capitals third shorthanded goal of the season.

If at first you don’t succeed… #CapsDevils on @CSNMApic.twitter.com/jTd2h32Ppl

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 30, 2016

The third period would end with the game tied at 1-1. The Capitals led in shots on goal 11-8 for the third period.

OVERTIME
The 3-on-3 overtime would go scoreless and go to a shootout. The  Devils would win it.

By Jon Sorensen
Follow @NoVa_Caps

SCENES FROM VERIZON CENTER

#☝️ #CapsDevils pic.twitter.com/VS9qJp9S2F

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 29, 2016

Out front of Verizon Center tonight at the F Street Entrance – a @Budweiser Clydesdales! Come stop by on your way into #CapsDevils. pic.twitter.com/9XZAqVKGBq

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 29, 2016

2nd period underway. #CapsDevils is scoreless. Shout out to the OG D.C. Fan George Washington in the building tonight! #RockTheRed pic.twitter.com/UPw0taocti

— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 30, 2016