The Washington Capitals fell to the New Jersey Devils, 5-3 in their 2024-25 season-opener Saturday night at Capital One Arena in the District.
After killing two Devils power plays in the first half of the first period, the Capitals opened the scoring with a power play strike from John Carlson. However, the Devils quickly answered with a pair of tallies from Seamus Casey and Paul Cotter for a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
The Capitals tied the game just 32 second into the middle stanza with a short-range tally from Dylan Strome, but the Devils answered a little over three minutes later with a tally from Tomas Tatar to restore their one-goal lead, 3-2. They stretched their lead to two goals on Paul Cotter’s second goal of the game and held the 4-2 lead into the second intermission.
Tom Wilson cut the Devils lead to 4-3 just 1:35 into the final period. But that was it. The Devils held off the Capitals and added an empty net goal for the 5-3 final.
Charlie Lindgren (0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, .000 sv%) got the start in goal for the Capitals’ season opener. Jacob Markstrom (1-1-0, 2.55 GAA, .906 sv%) got the start between the pipes for the visiting Devils in their fourth game of the season. The starting forward lines and defensive pairs for the Capitals:
FIRST PERIOD
The Capitals endured two penalty kills in the first half of the first frame to keep the game scoreless. The Capitals would dent the twine 10 seconds into their first power play on a bomb from the blueline by John Carlson (1) at 10:48. Pierre-Luc Dubois (1) had the primary helper. Dylan Strome had the secondary assist.
The Devils quickly answered on a goal from Seamus Casey with a little over six minutes remaining in the first period. J. Bratt (2) and T. Meier (1) had the helpers.
The Devils took their first lead of the night with 3:36 remaining in the first period. Paul Cotter (3) notched the go ahead marker. S. Noesen (2) and E. Haula (2) had the helpers.
SECOND PERIOD
The Capitals tied the game early in the second period. Dylan Strome notched the tying tally just 32 seconds into the middle frame. John Carlson (1) and Alex Ovechkin (1) had the helpers.
But the Devils answered back. Tomas Tatar (1) notched the go ahead tally to make it 3-2 at 3:56 of the second period. S. Noesen (3) and E. Haula (3) had the assists.
Capitals defenseman Matt Roy sustained a lower body injury and did not return to tonight’s game.
The Devils made it 4-2 on Paul Cotter’s second goal of the night at 13:38 of the second period. S. Noesen (4) and E. Haula (4) had the assists.