NEWARK, NJ - The Devils erased a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead only to eventually fall, 6-4, in a wild back-and-forth affair against the Washington Capitals at Prudential Center on Wednesday night.
New Jersey trailed 3-0 after the first period. The Devils scored four consecutive goals in a 5:30-span of the second period to take a 4-3 lead. Tyler Toffoli scored twice while Timo Meier and Nico Hischier added tallies.
The Capitals built their lead with goals from Anthony Mantha, Dylan Strome and Sonny Milano in the first period. They posted three more goals in the third period from Strome (again), Connor McMichael and Alex Ovechkin (empty-net).
“We have to win more battles. We have to compete harder on the puck,” head coach Lindy Ruff said. “If you look at tonight’s first period, every battle went to them. Our puck play was atrocious, passing couldn’t go tape-to-tape. We missed passes. I thought we were a soft team.
“I think we got what we deserved tonight.”