The Washington Capitals struggled to get their offense going in their first game since learning that star captain Alex Ovechkin would be out for four to six weeks with a broken left fibula.
The Capitals will aim for a better performance on Saturday night when they face the New Jersey Devils. The two teams each won on the other’s home ice last month.
Washington had trouble creating offense in Thursday’s 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, with Pierre-Luc Dubois’ goal late in the first period being the only highlight. This loss ended the Capitals’ three-game winning streak.
The game was Washington’s first since Ovechkin got injured in Monday’s 6-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Ovechkin, 39, had scored 13 of his team-leading 15 goals in the last 11 games before his injury.
“It’s an unfortunate injury,” said Capitals coach Spencer Carbery. “Anytime you lose your captain, anytime you lose a player that is having the year that he’s having and playing as well as he’s playing — he’s such a big part of our team. … He’ll be back at some point for us. Now we just need other guys to do more.”
To adjust, Andrew Mangiapane moved to the top line with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas, while Hendrix Lapierre joined the third line with Lars Eller and Jakub Vrana.
“We had a couple new combinations, guys maybe feeling each other out a little bit,” forward Tom Wilson said. “But I think we could definitely hold on to more pucks and create a little bit more offensively.”
Ovechkin’s absence was felt, especially by the Devils. The three-time Hart Trophy winner had a goal and an assist in Washington’s 5-3 loss to New Jersey on October 12, and a goal in their 6-5 overtime win on October 19.
New Jersey captain Nico Hischier had two goals and four points in the two previous games against the Capitals. Hischier scored all 10 of his goals this season in October and is tied with Jesper Bratt and Stefan Noesen for the team lead.
Speaking of Bratt, he scored two goals and added an assist in the Devils’ 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
“Bratter is just playing elite right now,” said Jack Hughes. “We’re connected. We’re moving the puck well and finding our groove but it’s about staying consistent throughout the year.”
Noesen, who was dealing with an illness, also scored a goal against his former team. It was his third goal in the last three games and his 10th in 22 games this season after setting a career-high 14 goals in 81 games with the Hurricanes last season.
“Noesen was a game-time decision,” New Jersey coach Sheldon Keefe said. “He almost didn’t play … Then he scores that goal against his former team.”
