The New Jersey Devils earned a sweet win in their first game without Taylor Hall but a big test is on the horizon with the Washington Capitals.
It is a new era for the New Jersey Devils. They began the post-Taylor Hall era on Wednesday night when the Anaheim Ducks paid a visit to Newark. The Devils got off to a good start without their former best player with a 3-1 victory. They were led by the two guys who need to start leading them soon and that is Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. Nico was the first star of the game thanks to his goal that tied the game along with his great all-around play. Jack made a great play to win a battle and to set up Sami Vatanen‘s goal.
These two are the cornerstone pieces for the franchise for the foreseeable future. They need to continue their good play when an elite team called the Washington Capitals to come to Prudential Center. That team knows a thing or two about cornerstone players. Nicklas Backstrom and Evgeny Kuznetsov are one of the best center duos in the National Hockey League. The Devils hope that Hischier and Hughes become that good someday.
What separates the Capitals from everyone else is their captain. Alex Ovechkin is the greatest goal scorer who ever lived and he really isn’t slowing down anytime soon. He currently has 21 goals which are good for third in the league right now. It would surprise nobody if he ends up leading the league by the end of the year once again at 34 years old. He is one of the best players to ever live and the Devils have to be wary of where he is at all times.
The Capitals are about to play the first half of a back to back. They have the Devils tonight and the Tampa Bay Lightning tomorrow night. The Devils are likely to see their backup goalie Ilya Samsonov if they plan on saving their starter Braden Holtby against the Lightning. Either way, they’re facing a really good goalie no matter what. They need to play a team game and get traffic in front of whoever it is they’re facing because it is going to be a really good goalie no matter what. Hopefully, the Devils can have the kids lead the way once again.