After a big win against the Philadelphia Flyers at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday, February 17th - The Devils took a tough and unfortunate loss against the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday, February 20th. Connor McMichael scored two goals in his first multi-goal game for the Capitals and Alex Ovechkin had two goals, as well as an assist in the Capitals' 6-2 win.
Devils lineup against the Capitals:
Palat - Hischier - Bratt
Hughes - Haula - Toffoli
Meier - Lazar - Mercer
Holtz - Nosek - Bastian
Siegenthaler - Nemec
Smith - Hughes
Bahl - Miller
Daws
Schmid
Capitals lineup against the Devils:
Ovechkin - Strome - Oshie
Protas - McMichael - Mantha
Pacioretty - Sgarbossa - Milano
Malenstyn - Dowd - van Riemsdyk
Carlson
Sandin - Jensen
Edmundson - Bear
Lindgren
Kuemper
Opening the scoring only 39 seconds into the first period - Connor McMichael gave Washington a 1-0 lead. He knocked in a rebound from the slot after a shot by Aliaksei Protas's shot from the right circle had been saved by Nico Daws. Later into the period, Alexander Holtz tied the game 1-1 at 4:54. Holtz got the puck from Simon Nemec, who had stolen it alongside the left-wing boards from T.J. Oshie.
At 15:43 of the second period, Connor McMichael got the lead back for Washington. In the offensive zone, he controlled a loose puck... McMichael toe-dragged past Tomas Nosek and dodged Simon Nemec, cramming the puck behind Nico Daws. The Capitals held the 2-1 lead throughout the remainder of the middle frame.
Dylan Strome extended the lead to 3-1 early into the third frame with his 21st goal of the season. He knocked in his own rebound after originally redirected Alex Ovechkin's pass. Ovechkin recorded his 15th of the season after he shot from the top of the left circle and scored a wrist shot to make it 4-1 at 11:16. Scoring his first since December 17th, 2021 - Michael Sgarbossa increased the lead to 5-1 after getting a pass from John Carlson and scored in front. Erik Haula scored off a feed from Tyler Toffoli on the rush to pull New Jersey within 5-2... Ovechkin scored his second of the night on the power play. He tapped in Strome's pass for his 16th goal of the season, as well as his eighth in his past eight games for a 6-2 final.
Nico Hischier on the Devils' loss and their chances: "I think the problem is we just got frustrated. We weren't sharp enough after that and broke down at the end. I think we memorialized the game under control. We just got in our own heads," - "Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't. I think we could've done a better job staying in front of the guy's eyes, but we had some good looks. It felt like it just didn't want to go in today. We just got to find a way to stick with it and don't get too frustrated."
Jonas Siegenthaler on his return after missing 16 games and the Devils' loss: "It felt good, a little rusty in the beginning. I think after a couple shifts, I got into the game and felt like normal," - "We just got to be out in front of the net, we got to be harder in front of the net, and don't give them second chances around the net. I think we can do a better job there."
Notes:
- Jonas Siegenthaler played 18:50 and he blocked three shots in his return after missing 16 games due to a broken foot.
- Nico Hischier won 14 of 20 face-offs... Nico Daws made 20 saves for New Jersey.
- Alex Ovechkin has 838 career goals, now being 56 behind Wayne Gretzky for the NHL record... he scored his 412th home goal to pass Jaromir Jagr for third in NHL history, trailing both Gretzky (492) and Gordie Howe (449)
Ovechkin extended his point streak to nine games (13 points - eight goals, five assists)
- Nic Dowd did not return to the game after the first period due to an upper-body injury.
- Connor McMichael scored five of his 19 NHL goals against the New Jersey Devils... Dylan Strome had a goal and recorded two assists. Charlie Lindgren made 37 saves for Washington.
*All photos used by the New Jersey Devils used with permission*
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