This is your place to check for updates and comment along with the Washington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils game on March 9, 2023.
Days after their failed attempt for their first three-game winning streak since 2022, the Washington Capitals are back at home and will take on one of the best teams in the National Hockey League – the New Jersey Devils – whom they kinda sorta helped become a super power for years to come.
If we go straight to brass tacks, the Capitals are sitting 12th in the Eastern Conference, five points out of a wild card spot. MoneyPuck has their playoff chances at 5.7 percent. They need to win this game and virtually their remaining 16 games after to make the playoffs, which obviously they will, duh.
From a blog point of view, we are already feeling the waning interest from fans in our analytics (please come back). It’s like preseason numbers here, which I guess makes sense. We’ll try to make this fun, though!
Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports Washington. Puck drop is a little after 7 pm. The Caps will be wearing their cursed W jerseys.
Links
- THE JOE B AND LOCKER TALKING BOBBLEHEAD
- I HELPED INVENT IT
- ORDER IT NOW
- It’s Vitek Vanecek’s return game, but he’s not starting. Shame on you, Lindy!
- Rasmus Sandin is getting mentored by Nicklas Backstrom
- John Carlson practices with Capitals for first time since injury
- News and notes from the morning skate
- Alex Ovechkin grants the wish of a 14-year-old who had three open-heart surgeries
- Sammy wins first h2h matchup between the former Capitals’ two-headed young goalie monster
- Seems like GMBM and Lavy haven’t been vibing on the usage of young players
- Vinny Iorio’s will be back in Hershey soon
- HAVE YOU BOUGHT IT YET?
Lines
Lineys#CapsDevils | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/UaWyTO2vyU
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 9, 2023
Pregame Shenanigans
Welcome to Washington, Sandy!#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/Hyt4ntSwik
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 9, 2023
Congratulations, Nicke!
Congrats to Nicky on moving into the top-10 in games played all-time by a Swedish player in NHL history!#ALLCAPS | @LeidosInc pic.twitter.com/9StoD166XF
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) March 9, 2023
1st Period
The Capitals’ Darcy Kuemper will face Akira Schmid in net.
Devils get a 3-on-1 break on their first rush up the ice and Ryan Graves hits the post.
Craig Laughlin calls the Capitals’ recent first periods terrible. He’s not wrong.
Alex Ovechkin takes the game’s first penalty, a slashing call on Timo Meier, at the 3:50 mark.
The Devils have the game’s first six shots 6:30 into the game.
🚨 1-0 Capitals. TVR gets a McNuggets Minute goal. A banked shot off a Devils defender and in through Schmid’s five-hole.
Gotta say – the fans at Capital One Arena – they’re so great considering the situation the team is in. It’s so loud.
The Devils lead in shots on goals 9 to 7 and in 5v5 shot attempts 14-12. The Devils are destroying the Capitals in expected goals 0.98 to 0.10.
2nd Period
After taking the puck hard to the net, Evgeny Kuznetsov clanks into Schmid’s pad and takes a diving penalty. It came during the first shift of the period.
Tom Wilson takes a holding penalty. Devils get their third power play.
Uh oh. Two goals in 37 seconds for the Devils. New Jersey now has the lead.
🚨 1-1 tie. Erik Haula scores at 6:55. From Dawson Mercer and Damon Severson.
🚨 2-1 Devils. Dawson Mercer at the 7:32 mark. From Nico Hischier and Tomas Tatar.
🚨 2-2 tie. Dylan Strome ties it a little over two minutes later. From TJ Oshie and TVR. It’s a two-point night for the UFA defenseman.
The Devils lead in shots in goal 25 to 14 and in 5v5 shot attempts 30 to 28. The Devils lead in expected goals 2.48 to 1.03.
3rd Period
Darcy Kuemper continues to play huge for the Capitals. He’s kept Washington in this game.
No goals in the period. We’re going to overtime. The Devils lead in shots on goal, 39 to 18.
Overtime
Strome and Wilson with Sandin start overtime for the Capitals.
Schmid stops TVR on a breakaway.
Ooooo late OT power play for the Caps after Meier trips Tom Wilson
Shootout
❌ TJ Oshie misses
❌ Jack Hughes stopped by Darcy Kuemper
❌ Evgeny Kuznetsov hits the post with his super slow shootout move
❌ Jesper Bratt dekes to his backhand and loses the puck.
❌ Nicklas Backstrom tries to go five-hold but Schmid stops him.
❌ Nico Hischier stopped by Kuemper’s pad.
❌ Alex Ovechkin misses the net on his backhanded shot
✅ Timo Meier scores on his forehand and it’s over.
Devils win 3-2 and have their 90th standings point.
Comment below. Refresh this article throughout the night as we’ll be updating it live.
