New Jersey Devils

Game Preview: Devils Host the Capitals

The Devils and Capitals face off in a Metropolitan Division matchup, both on the second leg of a back-to-back.

Published

11 months ago

October 25, 2023

James Nichols

Credit: James Nichols/NJDHockeyNow

The New Jersey Devils (3-1-1) host the Washington Capitals (1-3-1) at the Prudential Center Wednesday night. Both teams are on the second leg of a back-to-back following Tuesday’s Frozen Frenzy. The two Metropolitan foes are coming off opposite outcomes with New Jersey claiming a victory on Tuesday, while the Caps fell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Washington. Let’s dive into tonight’s matchup when the Devils host the Capitals.

Time: 7:30 PM Watch/Stream: TNT/MAX Listen: DEVILS HOCKEY NET

Projected Devils Lineup

Ondrej Palat-Nico Hischier-Jesper Bratt

Tyler Toffoli-Jack Hughes-Timo Meier

Dawson Mercer-Erik Haula-Alexander Holtz

Curtis Lazar-Michael McLeod-Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler-Dougie Hamilton

Kevin Bahl-John Marino

Brendan Smith-Luke Hughes

*Akira Schmid

Vitek Vanecek

Projected Capitals Lines

Alexander Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Matthew Phillips

Connor McMichael-Evgeni Kuznetsov-TJ Oshie

Sonny Milano-Niklas Backstrom-Tom Wilson

Beck Malenstyn-Aliaksei Protas-Anthony Mantha

Martin Fehervary-John Carlson

Rasmus Sandin-Trevor Van Riemsdyk

Alexander Alexeyev-Nick Jensen

*Hunter Shepard

Darcey Kuemper

*Projected Starters

Last Game

Jack Hughes recorded his fourth multi-point game through five contests so far this season, helping lead the Devils to a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Hughes’s four assists (all primary) contributed to Tyler Toffoli’s hat-trick against his former club in Montreal. The 22-year-old forward also assisted Nico Hischier’s first goal of 2023-24 on the power play. Alexander Holtz scored his first of the season as well, tying the game at one in the first period. Vitek Vanecek stood tall making 27 saves on 29 shots.

Washington fell to the Maples Leafs on Tuesday in a 4-1 drubbing.

Player to Watch

Dawson Mercer is pointless through five games of the 2023-24 season. He’s also just two points shy of 100 career points following two-plus NHL seasons. Tonight against the Capitals feels like a good night to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season. In seven career games against the Capitals, Mercer has registered seven points (one goal and six assists).

Devils vs. Capitals

Per the Devils’ PR, “The Devils and Washington face-off for the first of four matchups this season.

Nov. 10, vs WSH, 7:00 P.M.
Jan. 3, at WSH, 7:30 P.M.
Feb. 20, at WSH, 7:00 P.M.

New Jersey logged a 3-1-0 record vs Washington in 2022-23, which marked the first time since 2013-14 that the team won a season series vs the Caps.

ALL-TIME vs WSH

Record: 96-118-13-6
Home: 55-49-7-4
Road: 41-69-6-2

DID YOU KNOW…

The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs Washington is eight, which was logged by the Colorado Rockies on Oct. 28, 1977, in an 8-1 win vs Washington.

The most goals in Devils team history earned in a single game vs Washington is seven, twice, and last logged on Dec. 28, 2005, in a 7-2 win at Jersey.

The most goals that the franchise allowed in a single game vs Washington was nine, four times, and last recorded on Jan. 1, 1993, in a 9-2 loss at Washington.

The most shots that the franchise earned in a single game vs Washington was 47 on Jan. 20, 1989, in a 6-5 win at Washington.

The most shots that the franchise allowed in a single game vs Washington was 51 on Nov. 18, 1980, in a 7-1 loss at Washington.

The shots that the Devils (team history) allowed in a single game vs Washington was 47 on Apr. 10, 1993, in a 5-3 win at the Caps.

The last time that the Devils shut out Washington was on Oct. 11, 2018, in a 6-0 win (K. Kinkaid, 21 saves).

The last time that Washington shut out the Devils was on Mar. 26, 2021, in a 4-0 loss at Washington (I. Samsonov, 24 saves).

The Devils and Washington met in the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice, and last met in the postseason during the 1989-90 Division Semi-Finals – WSH eliminated NJD in six games.”