NEW JERSEY DEVILS (2-1-0) AT WASHINGTON CAPITALS (0-0-0)

The Devils hit the road for their first road trip of the season, one game in Washington D.C. against the Capitals.

Read more in today’s Game Preview.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

Check back after the Devils morning skate in Washington D.C.

THE SCOOP

The Devils are three games into the regular season with their first two games in Prague as part of the 2024 Global Series. New Jersey picked up two wins, 4-1 and 3-1, against the Buffalo Sabres. In their home opener Thursday night, the Devils struggled against the Maple Leafs’ forecheck, New Jersey didn’t match their opponents compete level, and they struggled with passing at times. New Jersey will look to get back into the win column with a stronger performance against the Capitals Saturday.

Paul Cotter and Timo Meier are tied for the team lead with two goals each, while Cotter and Johnathan Kovacevic each share the team lead with three points. Nathan Bastian, Kovacevic, and Jack Hughes each have two assists, which leads the group.

This is a busy start to the season for the Devils as they have 11 games in 21 days. Over the next week, after playing in DC, the team will have one game at home against the Utah Hockey Club before going back on the road. The Devils will face the Hurricanes in North Carolina on Tuesday and the Ottawa Senators on Thursday before returning home.

Saturday night kicks off the Washington Capitals’ season, their 50th year in existence. Throughout the preseason, the Capitals went 3-3-0, picking up wins over Boston, New Jersey, and Columbus while losing games to Philadelphia, Boston, and Columbus. Washington have celebrated their 50th anniversary season throughout the week and festivities will continue into the weekend, likely adding to the motivation from the group to pick up a season opening win in front of their alumni.

Washington’s roster has improved from last season as they’ve added in big names like defenseman Jakob Chychrun and forward Pierre-Luc Dubois. Jakub Vrana, who won a Stanley Cup with the Capitals, was signed off a PTO and will likely fill a bottom-six role. Charlie Lindgren, who had a strong season for Washington last year, will get the start in net.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: Timo Meier, who shares the team lead in goals with two, recorded five shots in Thursday’s loss to the Maple Leafs. Meier scored his second goal of the season with six seconds left in the second period Thursday night.

Capitals: Charlie Lindgren is starting the season opener after coming off a strong season with the Capitals. Last year for Washington, Lindgren played 50 games last year and finished the year with a 25-16-7 record. He averaged 2.67 goals against and had a .911 save percentage. Lindgren recorded six shutouts during the 2023-24 campaign.

INJURIES

Devils: L.Hughes (shoulder), Pesce (ankle), Hatakka (upper-body), Vilen (upper-body), Beckman (lower-body)

Capitals: Oshie (back, injured reserve), Backstrom (hip, injured reserve)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Oct. 12 at Washington
• Oct. 19 vs. Washington
• Nov. 23 at Washington
• Nov. 30 vs. Washington

STATS LEADERS

GAME NOTES

• The Devils are one of seven teams that have yet to allow a power play goal to start the year; however, New Jersey is the only team with that perfect record that has played more than one game.
• Timo Meier leads the NHL with 15 shots. Dougie Hamilton is tied for third with 11.
• Nico Hischier has the tenth-highest faceoff percentage in the NHL, winning 63.1% of his draws through the first three games of the year.
• Alexander Ovechkin is 42 goals away from breaking the all-time scoring record in the NHL. Washington’s captain enters his 20th NHL season, all with the Capitals