What a gutsy performance by New Jersey Devils captain Nico Hischier had against the Washington Capitals. Hischier, who the Devils organization named him captain last season at the young age of 22, was communicating with his teammates not to get down on themselves after blowing a 3-1 lead late in the third period.
"“It was a tie game, so it’s nothing lost yet,” Hischier said. “So it’s really important, especially in a packed house, everybody felt the energy from Washington. So it’s just really important to stay focused and understand that it’s not over yet and kind of play with the mindset that you just tied up the game. So that’s how I do it and I think everybody understood that.”"
Captain Clutch came up big with the game-winning goal to finally beat the Capitals for the first time since February 22, 2020. He played his heart out throughout the game and was sacrificing his body in order to block any shots trying to get through to Devils goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. Hischier led by example and made no excuses. Moreover his teammates followed his lead.
"“We were talking about that before the game, for sure,” Hischier said. “If you look at our games last year against them or even the game earlier in the season this year, we wanted to come out and beat them and I think you could see that from the beginning.”"
At a time when Dougie Hamilton took a puck to the face and had to leave the game in the first period, each Devils player continued to play a full game plus overtime as a team. The Devils needed this victory more than the Capitals to get the monkey off their back. Now, the Devils are on a three-game winning streak since the infamous impromptu press conference by Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald.
"“And, yeah, it feels good we finally got them.”"
Yes, winning does feel good. Right Devils fans? It’s a feeling we haven’t been used to, but it’s one we will take every time we can get it.