New Jersey dismantled Washington 7β3 at Prudential Center, a result driven by catastrophic goaltending variance on one side and a historically productive line on the other. This was not a close game that broke late β New Jersey led after the first period and never relinquished control.
β‘TURNING POINT
Bratt's power-play goal at 12:16 of the third extended the lead to 6β3, converting Washington's already slim deficit into a mathematically irretrievable gap with under eight minutes remaining. The goal punished a Washington penalty at the worst possible time and handed New Jersey's top line a final platform to bury the game.
πWHY NJD WON
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The Hughes-Bratt axis generated 10 combined points and dominated possession in all three periods, forcing Washington's defense into continuous reactive coverage it could not sustain.
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New Jersey converted their lone power-play opportunity in a high-leverage situation, while winning the faceoff battle at 52.6% to repeatedly establish offensive-zone time.
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Allen conceded 0.20 goals below league average on 32 shots β his performance removed any margin for Washington to claw back.
πWHY WSH LOST
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Thompson conceded 3.10 goals above league average on 29 shots β in a four-goal game, that margin alone decided the result.
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Washington's 13 giveaways against a team built to capitalize on transition opportunities directly generated New Jersey's scoring chances.
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Going 1-for-5 on the power play while surrendering a critical penalty in the third period meant Washington's special teams produced no net advantage in a game decided by four goals.
Three Stars
Jack Hughes1st
NJD, C
2G3A5P5 SOG+422:25 TOI
Hughes was on the ice for every meaningful New Jersey sequence, generating offense from every zone entry and anchoring the attack that ultimately broke Washington's structure.
Jesper Bratt2nd
NJD, L
1G4A5P+4PPG
Bratt's four assists show he was the primary distributor on New Jersey's most dangerous plays, and his power-play goal at 12:16 sealed Washington's fate.
Dawson Mercer3rd
NJD, C
2G6 SOG20:00 TOI
Mercer's two goals and six shots demonstrate he pressured Washington's defense consistently throughout the game, providing depth scoring that prevented any Washington run from gaining traction.
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Thompson conceding 3.10 goals above average gave New Jersey a built-in margin their top line was always going to exploit.
