Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images
The Washington Capitals downed the New Jersey Devils 3-0 Friday night at Capital One Arena. The win is the sixth-straight and improves the Capitals record to 40-21-7 (87 points) on the season. The Capitals are back in action on Sunday when they host the Winnipeg Jets. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.
SUMMARY
The Capitals opened the scoring just 2:40 into the contest with a goal from Andre Burakovsky for a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. After a scoreless second period, Nicklas Backstrom stretched the Capitals lead to 2-0 with a power play goal early in the final frame. Lars Eller would add an empty-netter for the 3-0 win.
STARTERS
Braden Holtby (25-16-4, 2.94 GAA, .909 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the defending champions. Mackenzie Blackwood (6-6-0, 2.25 GAA, .931 sv%) got the start in goal for the visiting Devils. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Ovechkin-Kuznetsov-Wilson
Vrana-Backstrom-Oshie
Hagelin-Eller-Connolly
Burakovsky-Dowd-Boyd
Kempny-Carlson
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Jensen
Scratches: Christian Djoos, Chandler Stephenson and Dmitrij Jaskin.
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals struck first with a goal from Andre Burakovsky at 2:40 of the first period. Michael Kempny (16) and Travis Boyd (15) were credited with the assists. The shot was the first of the games for the Capitals.
The remainder of the period would go scoreless. The Capitals squandered a 5-on-3 opportunity and another power play in the period.
The Devils led in shot attempts 15-10, with the Capitals leading in shots on goal 11-10 for the first 20 minutes. The Capitals were 0 for 3 and the Devils 0 for 2 on the power play in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals and Devils would skate to a scoreless draw in the second period. The Capitals led in shot attempts 22-10 for the second period and 32-25 after two periods. The Capitals led in shots on goal 13-10 for the second frame, and 24-20 after 40 minutes of play. The Capitals were 0 for 3 and the Devils 0 for 4 on the power play after two periods.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would stretch their lead to 2-0 with a power play goal from Nicklas Backstrom at 4:35 of the final frame. John Carlson (49) and Evgeny Kuznetsov (43) got the assists.
Lars Eller would add an empty-netter for the 3-0 win.
SHAVINGS
- With his third shutout of the season, Braden Holtby has tied Olie Kolzig (35) for the most shutouts in franchise history.
- John Carlson recorded the primary assist on Backstrom’s goal. He’s now one assist shy of recording back-to-back 50 assist seasons to become the third defenseman in franchise history to reach that mark (Scott Stevens: 1986-89; Larry Murphy: 1986-88).
- Andre Burakovsky has goals in three straight games.
- Travis Boyd picked up an assist on Burakovsky’s goal, extending his point streak to three games (3a).
- The NHL box score is here.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT
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