Washington
Devils in Nation’s Capital to Play Washington | PREVIEW
The Devils start a two-game highway journey staring Thursday evening in Washington, D.C. towards the Capitals. Puck drop is 7 p.m. ET.
You may watch the sport on MSGSN2 or hear on the Devils Hockey Community.
Learn the sport preview under plus movies, lineup updates and extra.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Test again following 11:30 a.m. morning skate.
PREVIEW
DEVILS (41-16-6) vs. CAPITALS (31-28-6)
TV: 7:00 p.m. ET; Televised on MSGSN
RADIO: 7:00 p.m. ET; Dwell on Devils Hockey Community
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Capitals meet for the third time this season, and first time in Washington. Every group gained as soon as in two contests at Prudential Middle. Washington notched a 6-3 win Oct. 24 whereas New Jersey evened the collection with a 5-1 victory Nov. 26.
Jack Hughes leads all skaters with three objectives, together with a game-winner, within the season collection, whereas Washington’s Dylan Strome has three assists. Former Capitals goaltender Vitek Vanecek is 1-0-0 with a 1.50 goals-against common and .952 save proportion towards his former employer.
Devils group scope:
The Devils are attempting to maintain tempo with the Carolina Hurricanes for the highest spot within the Metro Division. The Canes have a four-point edge with a sport in hand. The Devils carry the NHL’s finest highway file (23-4-4) into D.C.
Hughes continues to steer the group in scoring (76 factors) and objectives (36), although he solely has one objective in 9 video games since getting back from an upper-body damage. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton is second on the group with a career-high 61 factors (18g-43a). The Devils have 4 20-goal scorers on the membership with Hughes, Nico Hischier (27), Jesper Bratt (25) and Dawson Mercer (21).
Goalie Vitek Vanecek has allowed 13 objectives in his previous three video games, and 20 in his previous 5.
Capitals group scope:
The Capitals are in peril of lacking the playoffs for simply the second time since 2007 (2014). The group is in sixth place within the Wild Card hunt. Although they’re solely 5 factors again of the ultimate playoff place, the Capitals have performed two extra video games than 4 of the 5 groups they’re chasing and must leap 4 golf equipment.
Alex Ovechkin leads the group with 36 objectives and 61 factors. He reached the 30-goal mark for the 17th time in his profession. After Ovechkin, the subsequent highest objective scorer for Washington is T.J. Oshie with 16. Not serving to issues was dropping Nicklas Backstrom (43 video games missed), Tom Wilson (49), John Carlson (34) and Carl Hagelin (64) to prolonged accidents.
By the Numbers:
The Devils have 10 time beyond regulation wins this season, most ever in franchise historical past.
Mercer is using a career-high 10-game level streak for 17 whole (10g-7a).
The Capitals have misplaced within the first spherical of the Stanley Cup playoffs in every of the previous 4 years since successful the Cup in 2018.
Ovechkin’s 816 profession objectives rank second all-time in NHL historical past as he chases Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 894.
Damage Updates:
Devils
Jonathan Bernier (Hip – IR)
Mackenzie Blackwood (Undisclosed – IR)
Capitals
Carl Hagelin (hip surgical procedure, LTIR)
Connor Brown (knee, IR)
John Carlson (face, IR)
Martin Fehervary (lower-body)
Nick Jensen (day-to-day)