Your Caps just got absolutely *shellacked*
Good morning, Murr-land, DC, and NoVA. I know a lot of y'all probably turned that one off early last night, and honestly, who could blame you? The Washington Capitals went to New Jersey and got a straight up beatdown from the New Jersey Devils, losing 7-3. What started as a back-and-forth, wild first period – with goals from Connor Hutson and Pierre-Luc Dubois on the power play – quickly unraveled. After Dawson Mercer opened it up for the Devils, then Dougie Hamilton got another just before the first intermission, it felt like the air went out of Capital One Arena, even all the way in Newark.
The second period? All New Jersey, with Jack Hughes getting in on the action. By the time he scored again in the third, it was already 5-2 and the game was pretty much done. T.J. Wilson tried to spark something with his goal, but it was too little, too late. The Devils' top line, particularly Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, just ran circles around our defense, and Akira Schmid looked pretty comfortable in net for them. Giving up seven goals on the road is never a good look, no matter how many shots you put on their net.
* **First Period Frenzy:** Five goals scored between both teams. * **Devils' Dominance:** Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt combined for 9 points. * **Power Play Hits:** Pierre-Luc Dubois's goal was a bright spot. * **Defense Falters:** Capitals gave up 7 goals, including two in the final minutes.
This loss stings, especially after the run we've been on. We're still sitting at 85 points, holding onto that Wild Card spot, but these are the kind of games that make you nervous. Every point is a prize right now, and dropping two in this fashion is rough. The mood across the DMV this morning feels like a cloudy day at the National Mall – a bit dreary, but we know the sun will come out eventually. We gotta bounce back, and quick.
C-A-P-S! Caps! Caps! Caps! — this is O, from the District.
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