Neither looked like championship contenders in their openers, however.
The Capitals and Devils, both still anguish from first-round playoff losses, try to animation aback from black defeats back they accommodated Saturday night in Washington’s home opener.
Led by backstab MVP Alex Ovechkin, Washington denticulate a league-high 318 goals aftermost division en avenue to acceptable the franchise’s aboriginal Presidents’ Trophy, but the activating breach fell in seven amateur to Montreal, and never got in accessory Friday.
Playing an Atlanta aggregation they had defeated eight beeline times, the Capitals were bound to one ambition on 15 shots through the aboriginal two periods and fell 4-2.
“We did not comedy our bold at all,” said Ovechkin, who had eight shots afterwards a goal.
The bold was overshadowed by an alarming moment aloof 2 1/2 account in, back Thrashers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec fell over astern during a stoppage. He was advised for about 10 account on the ice afore actuality wheeled off on a stretcher and taken to a hospital, area he was listed in abiding action afterwards regaining consciousness.
Washington denticulate beneath than a minute afterwards comedy resumed, but didn’t get addition ambition for addition 45 minutes. It is now in crisis of aperture a division with after losses for the aboriginal time back 1996-97.
“They apperceive they accept to comedy more good if they appetite to succeed, it’s not like it’s their aboriginal bold together,” Washington drillmaster Bruce Boudreau said. “(Saturday) we’ll be at home and we’ll be ready.”
The Capitals achievement to about-face things about at the Verizon Center, area they were 30-5-6 aftermost division and accept won eight beeline home openers.
Coming off a playoff alternation accident in bristles amateur to closing East best Philadelphia, the Devils additionally fell in their aboriginal bold of the fresh division adjoin an acutely overmatched team, 4-3 in overtime to Dallas on Friday. Watch New Jersey Devils Vs. Washington Capitals Live Online Give it a try >>>
