Capital Punishment | GAME STORY

WASHINGTON, DC. - The Devils surrendered three goals in the second period in a 4-2 loss at Washington at Capital One Arena on Saturday afternoon.

The Devils scored the game’s opening goal from Arseny Gritsyuk. But they allowed the next four, three coming in the second period, to Ryan Leonard, Ilya Protas, Dylan Stome and Boone Jenner.

 “Second period, they just hemmed us in our zone,” goalie Jake Allen said. “They made us pay. We had some costly turnovers. Second period was not good by anyone’s standards. When you get up 4-1 in the NHL, generally it’s hard to claw back. Guys played hard in the third, but at the end of the day it doesn’t mean anything. It’s about putting 60 minutes consistently together. We played a couple good games the last couple but we have to keep building.”

Timo Meier finished the scoring on the power play with 17.2 seconds left.

Here are some observations from the game:

• The game play was closer than the score indicates. The shots, possession and scoring chances were nearly identical. Goalie Logan Thompson played a spectacular game in net, making the difference. The Devils weren’t blown out of the building by any stretch. In fact, they were arguably the better team in the first and third period. But…

 • The game got away from the Devils in the second period. It was 1-1 until a three-goal outburst from Washington put the Capitals in cruise control. It started with Ilya Protas scoring form the hashmarks to make it 2-1. The Caps followed that with Dylan Strome picking up a loose puck at the side of the net and flipping it in for a 3-1 lead. The exclamation point came from Boone Jenner, finding a rebound in the slot and tucking it home for the 4-1 edge.

“I don’t know if we won a puck battle the entire second period,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “Loose pucks around, we didn’t physically get anybody stopped, get in anybody’s way. So they’re just roaming around. We’re just on our heels in terms of one guy allowing someone to beat us and get by us. So, somebody has to leave their check to cover it and now you’re stuck all in between.”

• For the third straight game, the Devils scored the game’s opening goal. It came a power play was expiring off the stick of Arseny Gritsyuk. He collected the puck at the left halfway near the top of the circle. He sent a long-range shot toward the net that somehow eluded everything in its path to get into the net. It just shows, no shot is a bad shot.

• Kudo to Dawson Mercer and Stefan Noesen for helping create the Gritsyuk goal. They both pressured behind the Capitals net, causing havoc and forcing a turnover. Mercer would pass the puck along the wall to Grityuk and pick up an assist. Noesen did not get an assist but was still crucial on creating the goal.

• Arseny Gritsyuk tied a career high in shots with six (Nov. 28, 2025 at Buffalo).

• Captain Nico Hischier dominated the faceoff dot. Winning 19 of 26 draws for an 73-percent clip.