POSTGAME NOTEBOOK: Devils 5, Caps 4

The Devil Made Me Do It The First Time - Just like that, we are a third of the way through the Caps' 2021 exhibition schedule, a six-game slate. The Capitals dropped a 5-4 decision to the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday night at Capital One Arena, a contest that looked very much like an early exhibition game.

The game was the Caps' second and New Jersey's first of the preseason, and rust and a lack of timing was evident on both sides, though it did dissipate some as the game wore on. Neither team ever led by more than a goal and the sides traded goals for the most part.
"I think it went pretty well," says Caps defenseman John Carlson, who scored his team's first two goals. "I think we executed good, all things considered. Obviously we can be way better in a lot of different areas. But I thought our execution as good and [our] effort. From that standpoint, not too bad. But certainly there is a lot to clean up in our game - our forecheck and our breakouts could have avoided a lot of different things tonight."
Hey Nineteen -With the Caps' longtime top pivot Nicklas Backstrom on the sidelines thus far in training camp because of his ongoing rebab of an ailing hip, there is some internal competition to fill the venerable No. 19's spot in the lineup should his absence extend into the regular season, a scenario that seems virtually certain at this point.
Hendrix Lapierre (2020) and Connor McMichael (2019) are Washington's two most recent first-round draft choices, and both are centers. Both players have been impressive in camp, and both have suited up for the first two preseason games.
Because of the pandemic and some injuries in his draft year, Lapierre's résumé is a bit lighter than we are accustomed to seeing from a player of his age; the 19-year-old has played a total of 88 regular season and 13 playoff games spread over three seasons in the QMJHL. Theoretically, he would benefit from one more full season of junior experience before turning pro.
But the Caps have that opening and Lapierre is determined to make the team's decision a tough one. He sparkled again on Wednesday, putting up two assists and opening eyes for the second time in as many exhibition outings.
"I thought he was better tonight than he was last game," says Caps coach Peter Laviolette of Lapierre. "And he was good last game. I thought he did a better job of competing on pucks, and a better job in the faceoff circle. You could notice his speed with the puck and how he attacked the game, and he was able to generate some offense, so another good showing."
McMichael was also noticeable and effective in his second exhibition showing on Wednesday.
"I thought they really got going later in the game," says Laviolette of McMichael and his linemates, Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and Mike Vecchione. "At the beginning of the game, [they were] maybe a little bit quieter. But almost every shift in the third period, I thought that they had a positive effect. They were in the offensive zone and they were looking to create, and I thought that they did a good job."
McMichael was able to make his pro debut a season earlier than usual because of the pandemic, and he was up to the task, leading AHL Hershey in goals (14), points (27) and pacing the entire circuit with eight game-winning goals. While both he and Lapierre are excellent prospects who are still early in their development stages, McMichael has a leg up at this stage in their respective development arcs.
But Lapierre keeps opening eyes and seems determined to make the Caps consider doing something they haven't done in 20 years, which is to keep a junior player on the opening night roster, knowing that if they return him to his junior team before he plays 10 NHL games this season, they won't burn the first year of his entry-level contract.
"I've always been really confident in my abilities as a player," says Lapierre. "I'm a little surprised maybe, but I just want to keep making plays and try to create things offensively while having a really good defensive game, too. I'm a little surprised, but I'll take it and I'll try to continue like that."
If Lapierre is able to continue like that, he could become the first junior hockey player since 2001-02 to force his way onto the opening night roster for a trial of nine or fewer games. Twenty years ago, it was center Brian Sutherby who skated in seven October games with Washington before being sent back to Moose Jaw of the Western Hockey League.
"My goal when I came to training camp was to make that roster," says Lapierre. "I just have to keep playing and good things will happen. But it's definitely my goal, yeah."
Friend Of The Devil - Last season, Lapierre and Devils prospect Dawson Mercer were teammates with Chicoutimi of the QMJHL, and they were the team's two leading scorers. Mercer, who was a first-round pick (18th overall) in 2020 when he was drafted just four slots ahead of Lapierre, made his NHL preseason debut with New Jersey on Wednesday in the District, and he scored the game-tying goal for the Devils in the third period.
"It was awesome," says Lapierre of playing in an NHL preseason game against one of his junior teammates from the last two seasons. "He is one of my best buddies; we talk to each other pretty much every day. So [Tuesday] we talked and we were like, 'Yeah, it's going to be pretty special.'
"We were playing on the same line about four months ago in the playoffs in the [Quebec League], and now we're taking face-offs against each other in a preseason game. It was great; he scored a nice goal out there and played good as always. He is a terrific teammate and a terrific player, and it's just a pleasure to battle against him. Hopefully we can battle more in the future."
Sometime To Return - Caps defenseman Michal Kempny suited up for NHL action for the first time in more than a year, since an Aug. 14, 2020 playoff game against the New York Islanders in the Toronto bubble.
Kempny has endured two significant injuries in the last two and a half years, both of which required surgery and several months of subsequent rehab. He showed some visible rust on Wednesday, making mistakes that helped lead to the first two New Jersey goals, but did collect an assist on T.J. Oshie's second-period goal.
"Listen, we've got to give him some games," says Laviolette. "It's been a long grind for him with two major surgeries. We've got to give him some time to play and to work things out."
First Glimmer - Zach Fucale started Wednesday's game for Washington, stopping 12 of 15 shots he faced in 40 minutes of work, and yielding the crease to Ilya Samsonov with the Caps holding a 4-3 lead. For Fucale, the first goalie drafted (second round, 36th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft, it was his first NHL preseason game in two years and his first as a member of the Capitals organization.
"It's good to be out there, for sure," says Fucale. "A lot of things to clean up though, in my game, stickhandling and stuff like that. But hey, it's preseason, the first game. You get back to practice, you watch the video and you improve it from there."
Fucale went 9-2-0 with Hershey last season, recording a shutout, a 1.80 GAA and a .932 save pct. along the way. He and Pheonix Copley are expected to share the netminding chores for the Bears this season. Although he has yet to make his NHL debut, Fucale gained some valuable experience on Washington's taxi squad at various times last season.
"It was great," says Fucale. "I got a lot of work with Scotty, the goalie coach. For me, it's just about continuing to improve. Even though it's my seventh year [pro] now, I still believe in everything I have as an opportunity in front of me and this is a great opportunity for me to be in such a good spot.
"Scotty and [Bears goalie coach Alex Westlund] have a lot of faith in me, and that's great. All I want to do is continue to take that opportunity and get my shot eventually."