Washington Capitals — New Jersey Devils: 4:2, NHL

Washington Capitals beat New Jersey Devils 4:2 in their NHL meeting on Friday evening. The hosts took control early and saw it out despite a late push from the visitors. By then, the gap was too large for New Jersey to close.

Washington sit sixth after eight games with five wins and three defeats. They did not travel to make up the numbers, but they have been inconsistent lately. Their last five matches read as a win, a loss, a loss, a win, and a loss before this one.

I called for the home side to win, with a modest 55 per cent confidence. And here's the thing — the result confirms what I saw in their recent form. They beat New York Rangers 3:1 and Pittsburgh 5:3 before a heavy defeat in Seattle. The momentum was shifting.

New Jersey remain ninth after four victories and four losses. They ended a barren spell with that 7:1 win over Rangers on Wednesday, but this match showed they still struggle away from home. The wheels came off when Washington took their lead.

The result keeps Washington within striking distance of the top six. New Jersey have no points yet in their divisional standings, which makes every game critical. The Devils cannot afford another slip if they want to climb.