New Jersey Devils Beat the Washington Capitals 4-1 in 5th Preseason Tilt

The Washington Capitals fell to the New Jersey Devils 4-1 on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena. The loss dropped the Capitals’ preseason record to 1-4. With the win, the Devils preseason record improved to an impressive 5-1-1. The Capitals return to preseason action Friday night when they visit the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena in Raleigh. Puck drop is 7:30 PM.

Braden Holtby got the start in goal for the Capitals. Cory Schneider got the start for the Devils. Both netminders would go the distance in this one.

FIRST PERIOD
The game started with all of the play in the Capitals defensive zone, up until Dmitry Orlov was called for a slash at the 1:46 mark. Nico Hischier would make the Caps pay with a power play wrister from the right dot at 2:21 of the opening frame, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead. The shot looked to deflect off of Madison Bowey’s stick.

The Devils would make it 2-0 on a shot from the slot by Will Butcher at 5:03 of the first period.

The Capitals were whistled for two penalties in the first nine minutes of play, limiting 5-on-5 play and limiting any real Washington scoring chances. Braden Holtby also looked unsettled in during the first 10 minutes of play.

The Devils would add another power play goal from the slot by Jimmy Hayes at the 9:02 mark, making it 3-0.

The Devils would make it 4-0 with an additional power play goal by Drew Stanford at 14:19 of the first period.

The ugliness that was known as the first period came to a close with the Devils leading 4-0. The Devils outshot the Caps 12-6 for the opening frame.

SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals would get on the board with a goal by Tyler Graovac at 2:41 of the middle frame.

That would be all of the scoring in the penultimate period. A much better played period for Washington as Braden Holtby settled down, and the Caps began to find their legs. The Capitals outshot the Devils 11-9 for the middle frame. The Devils led in shots on goal 21-17 after two periods of play.

THIRD PERIOD
A much better third period for the Capitals, although it wouldn’t materialize on the scoreboard. Braden Holtby began to show signs of a revival in this one, with several nice saves in the final frame. The period would be of the scoreless variety, with the Devils hanging on for the 4-1 win.