The Washington Capitals emerged victorious in a tightly contested preseason game against the New Jersey Devils on September 28, 2025, securing a 3-2 win in a shootout. The game, which took place at the Devils' home arena, saw a strong performance from the Capitals' younger squad against a Devils team featuring stars like Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier.
The Capitals started strong, outshooting the Devils 10-2 in the first 20 minutes. Graeme Clarke, a former Devils forward, opened the scoring for Washington. Later, Ryan Leonard increased the lead to 2-0 with an impressive individual effort, showcasing his speed and shooting ability. This marked Leonard's first preseason goal and his first against an NHL goaltender. He also contributed with impressive defensive plays.
However, the Devils rallied, capitalizing on Washington's penalties. Nico Hischier scored on a power play to bring the Devils within one goal. Shane Lachance then tied the game late in the third period, sending the game into overtime. The Capitals took six penalties in total.
Overtime proved to be a tense affair, with both teams trading chances. The Devils had a power play opportunity early in overtime, but the Capitals successfully killed the penalty. Ultimately, neither team could find the net in overtime, leading to a shootout.
In the shootout, both Ryan Leonard and Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for the Capitals. Arseni Gritsyuk kept the Devils alive with a goal of his own. However, Andrew Cristall ultimately sealed the victory for the Capitals with the decisive shootout goal.
Capitals' goaltender Charlie Lindgren delivered a strong performance, making 19 saves on 21 shots. He made key saves, including a split save on a 2-on-0 opportunity for Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, and a kick-out save on Nico Hischier.
Several players stood out for the Capitals. Ilya Protas and Patrick Thomas displayed impressive combination play on the first goal. Rasmus Sandin also showed quickness and assurance in all three zones.
The Capitals' victory advances their preseason record to 3-0. The team will look to continue their strong play as they prepare for the regular season.
