The Washington Capitals are finally playing a game that matters this fall. After being forced to wait the longest of any team in the league to get their 2024-25 season underway, the Capitals are officially ready to get things going.
Washington will start the year against a New Jersey Devils team that will already be playing in their fourth game of the season because the NHL schedule is bizarre and never makes sense. New Jersey is coming off their first loss of the season, a 4-2 defeat to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night.
The Capitals-Devils game can be watched on Monumental Sports Network. Puck drop is shortly after 7 pm. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin have the call.
Tonight, we’re bringing you coverage from TWO hockey games. Katie Adler is at Capital One Arena for this game while Ian Oland is up in Hershey for the Bears’ banner-raising night. Should be fun.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New Jersey Devils
Tunnel shenanigans
O ya, the newbies are going to fit in just fine#ALLCAPS | @CaesarsSports pic.twitter.com/LPtFrCW2iJ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 12, 2024
Starting lineup
THE 2024-25 SEASON STARTS NOW
📺 @MonSportsNet
🖥️ https://t.co/JNm6lAlGGv pic.twitter.com/QYNElYPRTX— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 12, 2024
1st Period
Puck is dropped.
1:51 into the first, Nic Dowd has his first penalty of the season. Two minutes for tripping.
After a strong first PK, the Capitals are back down a man after Jakob Chychrun takes his own tripping minor with 4:50 gone in the period.
Super strong shift from Brandon Duhaime and he draws the first call against New Jersey. Timo Meier will sit for cross-checking.
🚨 1-0 Washington Capitals. WSH PPG: John Carlson (1). Assists: P. Dubois, D. Strome. Time: 10:48.
John Carlson blasts home the first goal of the season with the Capitals on a power play. Pierre-Luc Dubois earns his first point with the club on the setup.
🚨 1-1 Tie. NJD Goal: Seamus Casey (2). Assists: J. Bratt, T. Meier. Time: 13:42.
Seamus Casey quickly responds for the Devils with a quick wrister from the top of the left circle that beats Charlie Lindgren.
🚨 2-1 New Jersey Devils. NJD Goal: Paul Cotter (3). Assists: S. Noesen, E. Haula. Time: 16:24.
Paul Cotter beats Aliaksei Protas to the back post for a tap-in to give New Jersey the lead.
At intermission: The Devils outshot the Capitals 11 to 10 in the first period and out-attempted them 19 to 16 at 5v5.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 2-2 Tie. WSH Goal: Dylan Strome (1). Assists: J. Carlson, A. Ovechkin. Time: 00:32.
Strome finds a loose puck in the crease and jams it behind Jacob Markstrom to tie the game.
Charlie Lindgren makes a huge breakaway stop on Jack Hughes. Hughes was in alone from the neutral zone.
🚨 3-2 New Jersey Devils. NJD Goal: Tomas Tatar (1). Assists: S. Noesen, E. Haula. Time: 03:56.
Tomas Tatar has a few whacks at the puck and finally converts on his third attempt.
Dubois and Johnathan Kovacevic take matching minors. 4-on-4 play at the 9:50 mark of the second.
🚨 4-2 New Jersey Devils. NJD Goal: Paul Cotter (4). Assists: S. Noesen, E. Haula. Time: 13:38.
Broken play in the Capitals’ zone leads to another goal for Cotter. He finishes off a 2-on-1 with Noesen.
Cotter takes a slashing penalty at the 16:42 mark of the second, putting Washington on their second power play.
At intermission: New Jersey still leads in shots, 25-21, and 5v5 attempts, 38-35. The Capitals also announced that defenseman Matt Roy will not be returning to the game due to a lower-body injury.
Matt Roy leaves first game against Devils early with lower-body injury
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
🚨 4-3 New Jersey Devils. WSH Goal: Tom Wilson (1). Assists: C. McMichael. Time: 01:35.
Connor McMichael sends a beautiful pass to the slot to a wide-open Wilson. Wilson made no mistake with a quick snap shot to the roof of New Jersey’s net.
Dowd takes his second penalty of the night. This one for high-sticking Timo Meier.
Jesper Bratt evens the game up with a hooking penalty on Duhaime. Some 4-on-4 action before Washington goes on a power play.
Wilson gets called for a very soft tripping penalty. Fans are letting the refs know how they feel about it.
🚨 5-3 New Jersey Devils. NJD Goal: Dawson Mercer (1). Assists: N. Hischier. Time: 19:52.
Capitals can’t find the tying goal with the goaltender pulled and Dawson Mercer nails the empty net.
Capitals lose 5-3. There were certainly some bright spots but it was clear which team was already playing in their fourth game this season.
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