Capitals Run the Devils, 5-2

Posted on January 26, 2017 by Jon Sorensen
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Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images

The Capitals beat the Devils 5-2 Thursday night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The win raised the Capitals record to 33-10-6 (72 points). The Capitals are now off for the All-Star break, and will reconvene Monday afternoon at Kettler Capitals Iceplex. The Capitals next travel to Brooklyn to face the Islanders on Tuesday. Puck drop is 7:00PM. 

caps-devils-linesBraden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals.

TJ Oshie did not play in this game. Oshie left the team Thursday morning to return home to Virginia to tend to family matters.

John Carlson missed his sixth consecutive game with a lower body injury. Trotz stated after morning skate that Carlson will likely return to the lineup next week after the All-Star break.

Last game before All-Star break.

QUICK NOTES

  • Andre Burakovsky scored his 10th goal of the season, giving the Capitals 7 players with 10 goals or more.
  • Evgeny Kuznetsov had a solid game, with two goals.
  • All four lines have a player with 10 or more goals on the season.
  • The Capitals would once again chase a starting goalie, running Keith Kinkaid midway through the second period.
  • The Capitals have now scored at least 4 goals in 12 of last 15 games. Three exceptions were all games versus the Senators (3 goals *total* in those 3 games). (Ben Raby)
  • The Capitals went 13-2-2 in 17-game/31-night stretch.
  • For the second straight season, the Capitals head into the All-Star break with the NHL’s best record (33-10-6; 72 points).

FIRST PERIOD
Alex Ovechkin would start the scoring, after forcing a turnover by the Devils at their blue line, and finishing with a backhander for the 1-0 lead at 6:14 of the opening frame.

Andre Burakovsky would add a power play goal at 18:28 of the first period, giving the Caps a 2-1 lead. Burakovsky would show great patience in front of the net, waiting until his shot on goal was open.

The period would end with the Capitals leading 2-0. The Devils led in shots on goal, 11-9 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Devils would quickly cut the Caps lead in half on a close-range shot from the slot by Stefan Noesen at 3:19 of the second period.

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Lars Eller would stretch the lead to 3-1 on an easy knock-in of a rebound at 8:29 of the middle frame.

Evgeny Kuznetsov would make it 4-1 on a nifty 5-hole shot, chasing Kinkaid from the game at 10:19 of the middle frame. Cory Schneider would enter the game for the Devils.

The Devils would get one back with a goal by Adam Henrique at 18:16 of the middle period.

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The second period would end with the Capitals leading 4-2. The Capitals led in shots on goal 17-9 for the second period, and 26-20 through two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would implement the prevent defense for a majority of the final frame. Brooks Orpik would lay the wood to Taylor Hall midway through the period, unleashing a bit of an altercation, and costing Tom Wilson a game misconduct for third man in.

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Evgeny Kuznetsov added an empty net goal at the 18:07 mark, to seal the victory for the Capitals. Caps won 5-2.

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By Jon Sorensen

SCENES FROM NEW JERSEY

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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