Credit: NHL.com
Devils Lose Third Preseason Match to Capitals, 5-3
Published: Thursday, September 26, 2024
by Lauren Reese
NEWARK, N.J - Despite gloomy and cold autumnal weather, as well as it being a mid-week preseason game, fans still showed up and cheered loudly for the New Jersey Devils as they took on the Washington Capitals. NJ were coming off a 3-0 loss to Montreal, and were looking to find their first preseason win. Although they put up a great fight, the Capitals took the win by a score of 5-3.
But the game did not get away from NJ too quickly. The Devils threatened early and often with quick close-range shots, which was the shooting style they primarily chose throughout the matchup. Utilizing across-the-ice crosses and nifty puck movement, the Devils opened the scoring with six minutes left in the first period. Brenden Dillon, the recent addition from Winnipeg, scored his unofficial “first goal” with a rocket straight from the blue line. The Devils finished out the period strong, creating plenty of chances in the offensive zone, while also limiting Washington’s ability to counter with possession or even get a strike.
However, the second period is where the Capitals began to hit their stride.
Immediately they tested Devils’ goalkeeper Jacob Merkström with quick shots from both mid and long distance. Within the first 15 minutes of the second period, Washington amassed 12 shots, with NJ only registering two. Finally, John Carlson answered the door the Capitals were repeatedly knocking on, as he took a few touches in the middle of their offensive zone, and swiped the puck into the goal to tie it up at one. This would start a scoring wave for the Capitals, giving them enough momentum they never looked back from. Just four minutes later, Dylan Strome got in on the action with an on-frame wrist shot that was too quick for Merkström to collect. Brandon Duhaime had a quick tap in of his own 30 seconds later, and the Capitals aggressively took a 3-1 lead while the second period clock wound down. The Devils looked chaotic and exhausted within the last few minutes, and after such a wild sequence of events, they looked to come back in the third period with more ferocity.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe decided to keep Merkstrom in, despite the goals allowed. Within their past two matchups against the Canadiens and the Islanders, Keefe has utilized Nico Daws consistently, sprinkling both Merkstrom and Jake Allen as well. The third period was rocky, as the Devils continuously had silly giveaways with the puck, and their passes were intercepted easily. But through it all, they were given a chance with the first power play of the night with 13 minutes left in the period, after a tripping penalty from Capitals’ Alexander Suzdalev. They could not register a goal, but the solid teamwork and versatile puck movement was very prominent. Five minutes later, another tripping penalty was called on Washington’s Nic Dowd, giving the Devils another huge chance. But Capitals’ goalkeeper Logan Thompson was dealt puck after puck and was a force to be reckoned, amassing 25 saves throughout the game. He and the defense remained intact, while the offense continued to increase. Soon after NJ's second power play ended, once again Strome tucked the puck into the far right corner of the net, pushing the score to 4-1.
But the Devils were not about to go down without a fight. 47 seconds later, Nico Hischier was able to tip the puck into the goal to cut Washington’s lead to two. Two minutes later, Jack Hughes got in on the action as well, with a wrist shot from mid-distance to bring NJ within one. With a break in play with a minute left, the hope of an NJ comeback was pending, but was quickly shut down with an empty netter goal from Duhaime once again when play resumed. The buzzer rang to conclude the game, and the score finished 5-3.
Keefe was vocal about his disappointment with his squad’s lack of energy, stating the loss “... was all a general product of ‘we didn’t play hard enough for good chunks of the game’”. He was content with the teamwork on power plays, but emphasized how the overall production quality needs to be fixed immediately. The next matchup for the Devils will be at UBS Arena against the New York Islanders, on Friday at 7 p.m. For now, they will look to rest, regroup, and find their first win of the preseason come Friday.
Lauren Reese is a Sports Web Editor and Assistant Sports Director at WSOU Lauren can be reached at lauren.reese@student.shu.eduPosted in: sports,