I’m not sure what I should have expected.
Tonight, the New Jersey Devils hosted the Washington Capitals. The Capitals are aiming to take first in the Metropolitan Division. They also had a bigger, higher-profile game against Tampa Bay tomorrow. The Devils have had little to play for in 2019 and they are still ravaged by injuries. On paper, the Capitals should mop the floor with the Devils. In reality, the Capitals mopped the floor with the Devils.
It was not a total beatdown for sixty minutes. The first period ultimately went well for the Devils.