Capitals vs Devils Live Blog and Updates (October 24, 2022)
This is your place to check for updates and comment with the Capitals vs Devils game on October 24, 2022.
The Washington Capitals will face the New Jersey Devils on Monday for the first time this season. And it might be hard and important game. The Devils are young, developing and hungry. After starting the season 0-2, the Devils have won three straight games.
What to look for? Charlie Lindgren will get the net for the second time this season. In his first game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Lindgren was sensational and was everywhere to make saves. His new Capitals teammates said he was a great competitor and they weren’t wrong.
Alex Ovechkin has scored just one goal in one of six games this season — a brace against the Vancouver Canucks managed by Bruce Boudreau; he only has points in two of the six. The first line is not blocked or gelled yet. Will Dylan Strome centered on the first line help to thaw this cold snap?
The Capitals were shut out in the first two periods before giving the Kings a fourth-place finish and winning Saturday. This team does not play full 60-minute matches despite being almost entirely made up of veteran players. That won’t be enough against the top-flight Devils.
Beck Malenstyn makes his season debut on the fourth line.
Unfortunately, I’m here to let you know that former Capital Vitek Vanecek won’t be going for the Devils. Mackenzie Blackwood, who was the NHL’s third start of the week last week, will get another start in goal.
Tonight’s game is on NBC Sports Washington. The puck drop is a little after 7 p.m. See you later?
Pre-game links
Lines
Lineys!#CapsDevils | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/bVWkasLGpJ
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) October 24, 2022
No change from this morning, or the last three games for that matter, because #NJDevils warming up for tonight’s game against the Capitals.
Here is your build: pic.twitter.com/epRf3UbpeZ
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) October 24, 2022
1st Period
The Capitals started the third line – Protas-Eller-Mantha – with the second defensive line of Fehervary-Jensen. Alex Ovechkin is stopped on a breakaway by Blackwood after being suspended by Conor Sheary in the defensive zone.
🚨 1-0 Devils. NJ’s makeshift fourth line (they’re playing 7D tonight) came first on the board after overpowering the Caps’ fourth line in net. Nathan Bastian tapped a loose puck just outside the crease. John Marino and Michael McLeod were credited with the assists. The goal came 4:49 into the first period. (Video)
🚨 1-1. The Caps’ fourth line recovered their goal. Nic Dowd scored from the right circle with sleeping Blackwood. Beck Malenstyn found Dowd with the pass behind the net. It’s his first NHL assist. The goal came at 10:46 of the first period. (Video)
The Capitals’ top line had several great chances but couldn’t score. A few overtakes, some good saves from Blackwood and a few misses from the net.
The Devils led the Capitals in shots on base 13-7 and 5-on-5 shot attempts 16-14.
2nd Period
The Devils dominate the Capitals. Etddd.
🚨 2-1 Capitals. Garnet Hathaway jumped off the bench and scored a rushing goal to give the Caps the lead. He scored by crashing into a Devils defender and falling to the ice.
🚨 3-1 Capitals. Conor Sheary scored shorthanded. He snatched a cross pass from the Devils and had a breakaway.
🚨 4-1 Capitals. Alex Ovechkin scored his 783rd career goal with a rocket from his office on the PP.
🚨 5-1 Capitals. Nick Jensen found the back of the net with a point shot after getting a big screen in front.
The Devils were destroying the Capitals this period on shots and possession, but the Capitals went — as Joe Beninati put it — “not to be missed” and made this one laugh. The Caps scored four goals in the period – two at 5-on-5, 1 shorthanded and 1 on the PP. This young Devils team is still struggling to get away from the puck and it shows.
The Devils lead the Capitals in shots 27-18 and 5v5 shot attempts 33-25. The Devils had five high-risk 5-on-5 chances in the lead-up to the Capitals.
3rd period
Vitek Vanecek is now in goal for the Devils in the third period.
🚨 5-2 capitals. Tomas Tatar edged Martin Fehervary for a loose puck in front of the net for the putaway.
🚨 5-3 capitals. Jesper Bratt scored on a broken play. As Trevor van Riemsdyk dipped to stop play, he somehow pushed the puck past Charlie Lindgren’s pads. It’s still a game.
🚨 6-3 capitals. Aliaksei Protas with a solid net catch after a superb saucer pass from Anthony Mantha on a 2-on-1. Protas deked Vanecek for the lay-up goal on his backhand.
The Capitals won big, but the underlying stats here aren’t nice. The Devils beat the Capitals 40-22 (!!!) and beat the Capitals 52-31 5-5. The Capitals connected on a few decent chances, but it’s hard to say they did “good.” played here. Let’s enjoy tonight, but this team has got to be better than that.
Post-match links
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