The New Jersey Devils faced off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday night, November 23, 2024, at the Capital One Arena. This encounter marked the end of the Capitals' unbeaten start to the season, handing them their first back-to-back losses of the 2024 campaign.
Tomas Tatar was the star of the night, delivering impressive performance with both a goal and an assist, helping the Devils secure their victory with a final score of 3-2. Brenden Dillon and Dougie Hamilton also contributed to the scoreline for New Jersey, solidifying their position at the top of the Metropolitan Division, sitting tied for the lead with the Carolina Hurricanes.
During the match, Matt Roy initially put the Capitals on the scoreboard, but the Devils quickly retaliated. Tatar managed to equalize shortly after Roy's goal, capitalizing on loose puck action near the goal. The second period saw Dillon scoring, redirecting the puck off John Carlson’s stick, allowing Hamilton’s power-play goal from inside the slot, creating what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
Washington fought back during the third period when Connor McMichael, assisted by John Carlson, scored on the power play, narrowing the margin to just one goal. The Capitals rallied but could not complete the comeback, marking their second consecutive loss after starting the season strong.
For the Devils, Jake Allen made significant contributions between the pipes, stopping 23 shots, including several key saves, one being the glove stop on McMichael late in the game, maintaining the Devils’ lead. With his performance, Allen bolstered his record, now standing at 5-2-1.
With Captain Alex Ovechkin sidelined due to injury, the Capitals are grappling with finding consistent scoring. Recent statistics indicate they managed just three goals over the last two games after successfully scoring three or more goals for five straight matches prior to this slump. The team’s offensive struggles underline the importance of Ovechkin’s contributions.
Ovechkin's absence was palpably felt during the matchup. His leadership and scoring capabilities would’ve undoubtedly injected some offensive zeal against the Devils. For now, their new players will need to step up to close the gap left by their captain. There were moments throughout the game where the Caps maintained possession but struggled to turn those efforts effectively toward scoring chances.
Coach Spencer Carbery noted, “We had possession, we controlled the pace, but we need to convert those chances. We can’t let opportunities slip away because we can’t find the net.” The team is expected to regroup as they prepare for their upcoming road games against the Florida Panthers.
On the other hand, the Devils are experiencing quite a power-play surge, now having scored seven power-play goals across their last four outings; they are now ranking second overall in the NHL with 31.4% efficiency. This added offensive threat likely played a significant role against the Capitals.
Looking forward, the Capitals will visit the Panthers to continue their season, and the Devils will host the Nashville Predators on Monday, November 25, making for exciting matchups as teams continue to jockey for position as the season progresses.
Overall, the game illuminated the disparity created by key injuries and the reliance on individual players, especially within the Capitals' roster. It’ll be interesting to see how the teams adapt as the NHL season continues.
