Daniel Sprong arrange the Capitals’ first aim and scored on a second-period breakaway to steer Washington to a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Thursday night time.
AP/Frank Franklin II
AP/Frank Franklin II
AP/Frank Franklin II
AP/Frank Franklin II
AP/Frank Franklin II
AP/Frank Franklin II
AP/Frank Franklin II
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — The Washington Capitals had the New Jersey Devils’ quantity final season, successful all eight video games. Nothing seemingly has modified this season.
Daniel Sprong arrange the Capitals’ first aim and scored on a second-period breakaway in one-sided 4-1 victory over the Devils on Thursday night time.
“We’ve gotten good goaltending, offensively we put up some numbers, defensively we’re not permitting too many pictures and our goalies are stopping those that they should cease and we’ve been in a position to get some wins,” Washington coach Peter Laviolette mentioned. “What’s been good concerning the begin — most likely simply the actual fact we’re 3-0-1, simply making an attempt to get wins and transfer on.”
Anthony Mantha, Dmitry Orlov and Evgeny Kuznetsov additionally scored because the Capitals handed New Jersey (2-1) its first lack of the season. Alex Ovechkin had his three-game aim streak snapped however had two assists.
Vitek Vanecek had 25 saves for Washington, dropping his shutout bid on a power-play aim by Janne Kuokkanen with 6:42 to play.
Scott Wedgewood, who was in aim as a result of Jonathan Bernier and Mackenzie Blackwood are sidelined, made 23 saves in his first begin of the season.
The Capitals obtained two pictures previous Wedgewood within the opening 9:33. Sprong arrange the primary one at 4:14 along with his persistence. Carrying the puck up the correct wing to the decrease circle, his preliminary centering move was blocked behind the aim line. He retrieved the puck and located Mantha on their lonesome in entrance for his second aim of the season.
Sprong mentioned enjoying with the lead has helped.
“There’s lots of good groups on this league and we’re group as effectively so it’s gonna be a problem however now we have 4 traces which are rolling, all six D’s are going and our goalies are enjoying nice. Each sport like that, we like our probability that we play like a group,” he mentioned.
Orlov obtained his first aim after Wedgewood gave up an extended rebound on a straight-on shot from Ovechkin. Orlov collected the puck, skated towards the center of the ice and backhanded the puck excessive into the online.
Sprong pushed the result in 3-0 halfway via the second interval, poking the puck previous Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton on the blueline and skating the size of the ice earlier than beating Wedgewood between the pads for his first aim.
Kuznetsov, who scored two objectives in Washington’s win over Colorado on Tuesday, obtained his third in shut after a Devils’ turnover. And Kuokkanen scored on a shot from the interior fringe of the correct circle.
Devils coach Lindy Ruff mentioned his group didn’t compete laborious sufficient and misplaced nearly all of the battle once they did.
“We most likely had half our group play effectively and half that didn’t play so effectively,” he mentioned. “When that occurs, you’re not going to win. I talked to the group concerning the sport. We’re not going to win if half our group exhibits up.”
NO JACK:
The Devils put heart Jack Hughes on the injured listing earlier within the day. The No. 1 total choose within the 2019 dislocated his left shoulder towards Seattle on Tuesday. No time-frame was given for his return. The group mentioned surgical procedure just isn’t deliberate right now.
NOTES:
This was Washington’s solely journey to the Prudential Heart this season. The groups will play twice in Washington. In final 12 months’s 56-game season, the Caps and Devils performed eight instances. … Vanecek has began three video games and never given up a aim within the first two durations, stopping 43 pictures. “I say guys are enjoying actually good in order that they helped me lots and I’m simply specializing in the hockey. I really feel it’s like regular,” Vanecek mentioned.
UP NEXT:
Capitals: House towards the Calgary Flames on Saturday night time.
Devils: Play the fourth sport of their homestand towards Buffalo on Saturday night time.
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https://wtop.com/washington-capitals/2021/10/capitals-sprong-has-goal-assist-in-4-1-win-over-devils/ | Capitals’ Sprong has aim, help in 4-1 win over Devils