Nov 21, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Capitals proper wing Tom Wilson (43) skates with the puck as Colorado Avalanche defenseman Devon Toews (7) defends within the third interval at Capital One Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Geoff Burke-Imagn Photos The Washington Capitals didn’t get their offense untracked of their first sport for the reason that crew introduced famous person captain Alex Ovechkin shall be sidelined 4 to 6 weeks with a damaged left fibula.
The Capitals will search for a greater displaying on Saturday evening once they host the New Jersey Devils. The Metropolitan Division rivals every skated away with a win on the opposite’s house ice final month.
Washington was unable to generate a lot in the way in which of offense in Thursday’s 2-1 setback to the visiting Colorado Avalanche, save for Pierre-Luc Dubois’ aim late within the first interval. In consequence, the Capitals noticed their three-game successful streak come to a halt.
The sport was Washington’s first since Ovechkin exited Monday’s 6-2 win over the Utah Hockey Membership with 14:30 remaining following a collision with Utah ahead Jack McBain. Ovechkin, 39, has scored 13 of his team-leading 15 objectives over his final 11 video games performed.
“It is an unlucky damage,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery mentioned. “Anytime you lose your captain, anytime you lose a participant that’s having the 12 months that he is having and taking part in in addition to he is taking part in — he is such an enormous a part of our crew. … He’ll be again in some unspecified time in the future for us. Now we simply want different guys to do extra.”
Andrew Mangiapane was elevated to the highest line to play with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas on Thursday, whereas Hendrix Lapierre was inserted into the third line to work alongside Lars Eller and Jakub Vrana.
“We had a pair new combos, guys perhaps feeling one another out somewhat bit,” rugged ahead Tom Wilson mentioned, per the Washington Submit. “However I believe we may positively maintain on to extra pucks and create somewhat bit extra offensively.”
Ovechkin, naturally, would have a hand in that — because the Devils would attest. The three-time Hart Trophy recipient had an help in Washington’s 5-3 loss to New Jersey on Oct. 12 and a aim in a 6-5 time beyond regulation victory versus the Devils seven days later.
New Jersey captain Nico Hischier collected two objectives amongst his 4 factors within the two earlier video games in opposition to the Capitals. Hischier scored all 10 of his objectives this season in October and is joined by Jesper Bratt and Stefan Noesen for the crew lead.
Talking of Bratt, he scored two objectives and arrange one other whereas Jack Hughes had three assists within the Devils’ 4-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
“Bratter is simply taking part in elite proper now,” Hughes mentioned. “We’re linked. We’re shifting the puck properly and discovering our groove however it’s about staying constant all year long.”
Noesen additionally scored a aim in opposition to his former crew whereas battling an sickness. The aim was his third in his final three video games and tenth in 22 contests this season after recording a career-high 14 in 81 video games in 2023-24 with the Hurricanes.
“Noesen was a game-time resolution,” New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe mentioned. “He nearly did not play … Then he scores that aim in opposition to his former crew.”
–Subject Degree Media
