Capitals' Pacioretty plays 1st game in nearly 1 year

Washington Capitals veteran Max Pacioretty made his long-awaited season debut Wednesday against the New Jersey Devils.

Pacioretty hadn't suited up in an NHL game in almost one year after tearing his Achilles tendon twice in five months. He played just under 12 minutes in the 6-3 loss to New Jersey.

The winger played just five games last campaign as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. His 2022-23 debut was delayed until Jan. 5 following his recovery from offseason surgery to repair the ailment, but he aggravated the issue two weeks later. Pacioretty scored three goals before his tenure in Raleigh was cut short.

He signed a one-year deal with a $2-million cap hit - plus an additional $2 million in performance-based incentives - with the Capitals as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Heading into Wednesday's game, Pacioretty had amassed 326 goals and 645 points (including 164 on the man advantage) across 855 games. The 35-year-old has eclipsed the 30-goal mark six times over his 15-year NHL career.

Washington's offense has struggled in 2023-24. The Capitals entered Wednesday owning the league's second-worst goals per game rate (2.34), and fourth-worst power play (12.2%).