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Capitals vs. Devils Recap: Hall Beats Washington In Extra Time

After a furious comeback from the Capitals Taylor Hall buried a breakaway in overtime for a 4 to 3 New Jersey win.

By Geoff Thompson
NHL: Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

The Capitals returned to action after their bye week to face the New Jersey Devils in a Metropolitan Division match up. Washington was chasing New Jersey for most of the evening but were able to tie the contest at three late. But in overtime it was the Devils’ Taylor Hall winning it early.

Here’s Thursday night's Plus/Minus:

Plus: The new third line of Lars Eller, T.J. Oshie, and Brett Connolly continued their strong play, carrying Washington offense at times. Connolly led the Capitals in shots with four and goals with two.

Minus: The Devils were the quicker team all night and their speed led to offensives opportunities. Washington was outshot by their hosts 31 to 19 through regulation.

Eight more notes on the game.

  1. Drew Stafford got the Devils on the board first with his seventh of the season courtesy of a beautiful backhanded shot. Stafford fought off Devante Smith-Pelly above the slot to earn a partial breakaway and he made no mistake with his chance.
  2. Former Capitals forward Marcus Johansson tallied the primary assist on Stafford’s goal, his third point in three contests against Washington.
  3. But only four minutes later Connolly knotted the score thanks to a friendly bounce. Oshie entered the offensive zone before pulling up inside the blue line and briefly pausing before firing a shot on net. The puck bounced off of Will Butcher and right to Connolly’s stick before hitting the back of the net.
  4. Less than four minutes into the second period New Jersey put themselves ahead again with a carbon copy of Connolly’s scoring play. This time it was Matt Niskanen’s stick deflecting the puck in the slot and Andy Greene the beneficiary to Braden Holtby’s left.
  5. And just past the game’s midway point Miles Wood buried a shorthanded gooal to extend New Jersey’s lead to two. A sky high pass from Sami Vatenen gave Wood the space he needed to reach top speed and squeak a snap shot though Holtby’s legs.
  6. Dmitry Orlov would respond quickly for the Capitals though. Fourteen seconds later the Russian defender drilled an Alex Chiasson rebound up and over Keith Kinkaid’s shoulder to bring Washington back within one.
  7. With Washington still trailing late Connolly collected an Evgeny Kuznetsov pass in the slot and rifling home a shot under Kinkaid to tie the game with 3:48 to play. Connolly’s two goal game is the second of his career.
  8. Less than a minute into overtime Hall notched his eighth career overtime winner, burying a breakaway shortside and high on Holtby for the Devils’ win.