Capitals play complete 60 minute game to defeat Devils

If you read any of my pregame articles yesterday I stressed the importance of the Washington Capitals playing a complete 60 minute game. Last night against the New Jersey Devils they did exactly that in a 6-3 win at the Prudential Center.

Nathan Bastian put the Devils up 1-0 early at 4:49. The Caps tied it at 10:46 as Garnet Hathaway set up Beck Malenstyn. Malenstyn ripped it and Nic Dowd was there to rebound it in.

1-1 was the score after one with the Devils leading in shots 13-7.

The Caps took the lead for good at 9:16 on a snipe from Garnet Hathaway for his first of the season. Nick Jensen and Dylan Strome had the helpers. The Caps then got a shorthanded goal from Conor Sheary at 10:03 on a snipe up the middle.

They would then get a power play at 17:14 and Alex Ovechkin made them pay on a shot from the office for his third goal of the season and 783rd goal of his career. John Carlson and Strome had the assist.

Nick Jensen got in on the scoring action for his first of the season at 17:47 on a shot from downtown. Lars Eller and Aliaksei Protas had the assists.

5-1 was the score after two with the Devils leading in shots 14-11. Mackenize Blackwood was lit up by the Caps offense and the Devils turned to former Cap Vitek Vanecek in the third period.

The Devils got two back from Tomas Tatar at 4:08 and Jesper Bratt at 9:06. Other than that Caps backup goaltender Charlie Lindgren, who got the start, played lights out with 38 saves.

Aliaksei Protas put a cap on the game with his first goal of the season at 16:11. Anthony Mantha and Eller had the assists.

The final was 6-3 in favor of the Capitals. The Devils outshot the Caps 14-4 in the third period and 41-22 overall but like I said, Lindgren was tested and he passed.

The Caps road trip continues on Thursday night against the Dallas Stars at 8:30 p.m.