
Photo: @Capitals
The Washington Capitals fell to the New Jersey Devils 5-1 Saturday evening at Capital One Arena. The loss drops the Capitals record to 30-12-5 (65 points) on the season.
Nico Hischier would get the Devils on the scoreboard first with a tally 5:27 into the contest for a 1-0 lead at the first intermission. The Devils would add three goals in the middle frame with the Capitals getting their lone tally from Jakub Vrana for a 4-1 Devils lead at the second break. The Devils would add another goal in the final frame for the 5-1 win.
GAME STATS
STARTERS
Braden Holtby (18-8-0-4, 2.99 GAA, .901 sv%) started between the pipes for Washington. Louis Domingue (5-1-4-0, 3.99 GAA, .867 sv%) got the start in goal for visiting New Jersey. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
Scratches: Travis Boyd. Christian Djoos was re-assigned to AHL Hershey earlier in the day on Saturday.
FIRST PERIOD
The Devils would open the scoring with a goal from Nico Hischier at 5:27 of the first frame.
All Star @nicohischier.#NJDevils pic.twitter.com/yZG8A2USat
— Devils Insiders (@DevilsInsiders) January 12, 2020
The first period would end with the Devils leading 1-0. The Capitals led in shots on goal 12-10, but trailed in shot attempts 19-14 for the first frame. Washington was 0 for 1 and the Devils 0 for 0 on the power play in the first period.
SECOND PERIOD
The Devils would stretch their lead to 2-0 with a goal from Nikita Gusev at 3:28 of the second period.
Is #NJDevils forward Nikita Gusev good? pic.twitter.com/2NUOU6cTBF
— Vinnie Parise (@VinnieParise) January 12, 2020
The Devils would stretch their lead to 3-0 with a short-handed goal from Blake Coleman at 6:48 of the middle frame.
We’re big fans of Blake. Big fans.#WeAreTheOnes | #NJDvsWSH pic.twitter.com/LOX58zPvIk
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 12, 2020
The Capitals would answer this time. Jakub Vrana (20) with pot the Capitals first goal, a power play tally at 8:28 of the second period, making it 3-1 Devils. John Carlson (42) and Nicklas Backstrom (26) had the helpers.
V backhand! pic.twitter.com/NvwqDE6rn9
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) January 12, 2020
But the Devils would also answer. Nico Hischier would score his second goal of the night at 12:11 of the second period to make it 4-1 Devils.
That net had a family, Nico!#WeAreTheOnes | #NJDvsWSH pic.twitter.com/seVznMsYnm
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 12, 2020
The second period would conclude with the Capitals trailing 4-1. Shots on goal were 9-9 for the frame, with the Capitals leading 21-17 after two periods. The Devils led in shots attempts 14-13 for the periods, and 31-28 for the first two frames.
THIRD PERIOD
The Capitals would be unable to dent the twine in the final frame, and the Devils would get another tally, this time from Miles would for the 5-1 win.
The Capitals next host the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday at Capital One Arena. Puck drop is set for just after 7:00 pm.
SHAVINGS
- The Devils first win in Washington since December, 2016.
SCENES FROM THE DISTRICT
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7NC6HnpgjX/?igshid=1ehcil5ai2x7s
This is a catastrophe, Nova Caps Fans
I made a bunch of comments in Ms. Della’s column below … But to summarize again:
Future Hall of Famer Washington Capitals Head Coach Todd Reirden has lost, I say again, lost, the Caps’ locker room. It’s gone. Reirden is coach in name only. The team has tuned him out. They stink and are in free-fall, and will not improve with this man as their leader.
They need another leader, mucho immediately. Brian MacLellan’s job description is to recognize this and act accordingly. It’s long overdue.
Jon S! You and your outstanding team need to get right on this! Please tell GMBM to recognize reality and bring us a real NHL Coach! Before he fritters away the rest of the season and the Caps drop out of the playoff race!
Horrible game. Maybe Holtby needs a few days off from the #1 goalie job. Use Sam for the next few. Granted, not all the goals were Holtby’s fault. But is he having trouble tracking the puck?
Reirden’s system is definitely not working against the Metro….
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When fans need to ask the question, “Has our team reached rock-bottom yet?” that means that either the Coach or GM should have already been replaced
Future Hall of Fame Coach T. Reirden is LONG overdue to be replaced, preferably with a real NHL coach.
Enjoy the free-fall, NovaCapsFans! Miss-the-Playoffs, here we come!
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