Devils drop 1st game.

Ed Mulholland | USA TODAY Sports

The New Jersey Devils couldn't win them all as the visiting Washington Capitals took advantage of a Devils team that seemed to be a step slower than their opponents in a 5-2 defeat in Newark.
Devils goals to Taylor Hall (1 power play) and Kyle Palmieri (1).
The Devils return tomorrow night against the Rangers at the Garden.
No coverage here as we have Ohio State and boxing.

Hell Raisers

1) Play that swung the game?
Pavel Zacha's third period high stick that drew blood from Karl Eller and that led to a four-minute man advantage for Washington, who responded with two goals and turned a close game into one that was conclusively decided.

2) Both Devils goals were goals that made New Jersey fans happy in defeat.
Nice to see Kyle Palmieri back in the lineup and his goal on a breakaway started by Damon Severson was a pretty one.
I wondered how much time Palmieri would miss after the injury in the season opener and it was good to see him perform well in his return with a goal and an assist on Taylor Hall's goal.

3) And what about Taylor Hall, who scored his first goal of the year off a nice pass from Kyle Palmieri.
The Devils are counting on a big year from Hall, so it's good to see him score number one before things spiral too far out of control.

4) Blake Coleman beat the crap out of Andrei Burakovsky after Burakovsky instigated a fight, which was after Coleman was called for boarding a Capital.
As Craig Laughlin breathlessly screamed that Burakovsky had never fought before, Coleman pounded him.
Coleman paid later in the period when Washington's thumper Tom Wilson whipped Coleman handily.
I miss the days of big bombing fighters like Wilson.
They are a liability today, but I still miss them.

5) The Devils will be starting Keith Kinkaid tomorrow against the Rangers.
John Hynes has said he wants to do more of splitting the goalies up on nights with back to back games.
Good to see Hynes living up to his word.
It'll keep Cory Schneider fresher and it will also be good for Keith Kinkaid as well.

6) Annual whine about the awful Washington announcers led by the world's worst color man in Craig Laughlin.
Joe Beninati isn't exactly Doc Emrick, but Laughlin brings the worst of Beninati.
With the exception of any game done by Gus Johnson, getting stuck with these two for Devils games vs Washington are my least favorites in sports.

You'll see a few posts over the next 24 hrs with the PPM, boxing challenge picks, Ohio State vs Nebraska, more boxing with the results from the weekend and the Cavaliers trade of Richard Jefferson, if I can squeeze that in.
Busy, Busy!!