Devils' 6-4 Loss to Capitals: Another Slow Start

Slow starts are becoming an all too common problem for the New Jersey Devils, as they fell behind the eight ball in the first period once again

The New Jersey Devils couldn't follow up an impressive 5-2 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night. Just 24 hours later, they fell 6-4 to the Washington Capitals. And it was a familiar problem that put them behind the 8-ball again. Here are some takeaways as they look to regroup before taking on the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow night. 

Devils Need to Figure Out the 1st Period

The Devils have only played six games so far, but in all six games, they've found themselves trailing in the first period. Even in their 5-2 win against the Canadiens, they fell behind 1-0 before putting their foot down and coming away with the win. 

Last night wasn't any better, as they fell behind 3-0 after 20 minutes. Sure, the Devils' goaltending did not help matters (more on that in a second), but they came out flat. As Devils coach Lindy Ruff said in his post-game media availability, "They played soft."

The Devils' defense wasn't great in the first period. There were breakdowns, but the more concerning part was their lack of offense. They had just two shots on goal at all strengths and couldn't generate much of anything at five-on-five. They couldn't complete a simple pass, which led to disconnected play. 

The Devils picked it up in the second period, scoring four unanswered goals to get back into the game. But there's no reason for them to be as lifeless and lethargic as they are at the start of every game. They have the firepower and offense to control play and need to figure out how to play with that urgency from the start of a game. 

If there's a bright side, it's only Oct. 26, and most early regular-season games in the NHL are sloppy. The Devils started last season 3-3 and had sloppy performances like this, but we know how the rest of the season turned out. There's no significant cause for concern yet, but Ruff and his staff need to get the start of games sorted out soon. 

Devils Goalies Amplified Breakdowns