WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals season started filled with hope and excitement, as an extensive pregame ceremony featuring over 70 alumni and a 1-0 lead got Capital One Arena going. Then, the New Jersey Devils responded, and things dropped off for D.C.
John Carlson and Dylan Strome had multi-point outings and Tom Wilson also scored, but ultimately, poor reads, mistakes and an injury for Matt Roy sunk Washington in an eventual 5-3 loss.
Here are the takeaways from the defeat as the Capitals drop their third consecutive home opener.
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Third line struggles, poor coverage in front of Charlie Lindgren sinks Capitals
After jumping out to a 1-0 lead early thanks to a John Carlson power-play goal, Washington would find themselves trailing the Devils after 20 with the third line struggling and coverage in front of Charlie Lindgren lackluster to say the least.
Seamus Casey was left alone at point position and got all the time and space he needed to unleash a rocket past Lindgren to even the score, and Paul Cotter would finish a picture-perfect passing play soonafter to make it a 2-1 game going into the second.