Did Alex Ovechkin score? Nope (didn’t even register a shot on goal)
Plus: Considering that the Caps haven’t played a meaningful game in months and were facing a team already playing their fourth game of the campaign, the fact that Washington’s special teams were effective – 1-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill – was encouraging. Small samples, obviously, but it looks like there could be some “there” there with the extra man.
Minus: It was a real rough night for the Caps’ third line of Sonny Milano, Hendrix Lapierre and Aliaksei Protas, which was on the ice for the Devils’ first three goals and registered just a 17.7 expected goals percentage (xGF%). They didn’t play a whole lot after that – just 4:15 total as a trio – but the damage was done.
Three Stars
*** Erik Haula (3 assists)
** John Carlson (Goal, assist)
* Paul Cotter (2 goals)