The New Jersey Devils lost 2-1 to the Washington Capitals on Friday night in the nation’s capital. The lack of goal-scoring that has been problematic all season struck again as the Devils managed only one goal on the night, coming in the final minute of regulation. With the loss, the Devils fell to 35-32-2 while the Capitals improved to 35-27-8.
Game Recap
Period One
The game got off to a choppy start. Neither team had good control in the neutral zone, and the Devils had just a few shots flutter through to Logan Thompson as the period neared its midway point.
The Devils failed to clear their zone, and Washington capitalized at 9:36 off the stick of Ryan Leonard. Brandon Duhaime and Trevor van Riemsdyk had the assists.
New Jersey faltered after allowing the first goal, but Jake Allen was strong in net, holding their deficit at one.
The Devils struggled to generate zone time or shots, and the period eventually expired.
New Jersey was outshot 8-5.
Period Two
The Devils had a partial two-on-one break in the opening minute, but Thompson made a save on the quick shot by Lenni Hameenaho.
Washington answered with a chance that nearly crossed the line, but Simon Nemec bailed out his netminder, scooping the puck off the goal line and out.
Hameenaho was caught with a high stick, sending New Jersey to its first power play of the evening, but they could not cash in.
The Devils had another rush opportunity, but Jesper Bratt fired his shot high.
Allen was dialed in as New Jersey couldn’t get anything sustained offensive zone pressure.
Arseny Gritsyuk had a rush chance, but Washington hooked him to eliminate the shot. Nonetheless, the Devils got a second power play opportunity.
Dougie Hamilton wired a shot off the crossbar, but the period ended before the Devils could draw even on the scoreboard.
Shots were even at eight apiece in the middle frame.
Period Three
The Devils couldn’t convert during the rest of their power play.
Despite the failed power play, the Devils finally started to generate zone time and fire pucks on Thompson.
The ice opened up as the teams exchanged rush opportunities, but both goalies were strong.
The Devils were tagged with their first penalty of the contest, but killed it off as the period crossed the halfway mark.
Allen came up huge with some late saves as the Devils continued to struggle for offense.
The Devils pulled their netminder with two minutes to go, and the Capitals immediately hit the empty net to ice the game.
New Jersey pulled Allen again, and at 19:17, Jesper Bratt pulled New Jersey back within one, with a snipe from the circle. Jack Hughes added the lone assist.
However, it was too little too late, and the Devils lost 2-1.
New Jersey outshot Washington 32-28 in the effort.
Takeaways
Rinse and Repeat
The Devils that fans have come to know this season were back on Friday as they struggled to light the lamp against the Washington Capitals.
In the games since the Olympic break, the Devils seemed to have finally found their scoring touch, but Friday’s contest was more reminiscent of the first handful of months of the season.
The first two periods were forgettable for the Devils, as the struggles to generate many shots of any kind, let alone dangerous opportunities.
While they mounted a better effort in the third, putting 18 shots on Thompson, the inexplicable lack of scoring that has plagued them all season was too much to overcome the one- and then two-goal deficit.
The same story is reflected in New Jersey’s season-long stats. They rank fifth in the league in shots on goal per game (Shots/GP) at 30, but 27th in goals for (GF) with 183.
According to NHL EDGE statistics, their shooting percentage is just 8.8%, which ranks 31st in the league. Additionally, they have scored one or fewer goals in 23 games this season, which is tied for the most in the league.
New Jersey’s problem is easy to identify as the offseason approaches, but the question is whether the management group can find the solution.
Up Next
The Devils have a few days off before they look to get back in the win column on Tuesday night, when they take on the Dallas Stars at the American Airlines Center.
The Stars sit second in the NHL with a 43-15-10 record. They are 8-1-1 in their past ten contests. Most recently, they defeated the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in a shootout. Dallas will play two games before taking on the Devils, facing the Minnesota Wild on Saturday afternoon and the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night.
Tuesday’s contest is the second and final meeting of the season between the Stars and Devils. Dallas shut out New Jersey 3-0 on December 3rd.
Puck drop is set for 8:00 p.m. EDT on MSGSN2.
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