The Washington Capitals are wrapping up their season series against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night. They’ll be hoping to split the four games after dropping a 3-2 decision to the Devils a week ago.
Both teams come into the game on the backs of 5-4 wins on Friday. The Capitals do not seem to have come out of their matchup with the New York Islanders unscathed, as head coach Spencer Carbery revealed his team will look slightly different a night later.
“Yeah, we’ll have a few [changes],” Carbery said pregame. “We’re working through some things right now, so we’ll have a couple different guys in warmup.”
Washington will definitely be without Alex Ovechkin for a sixth straight game. With the overtime win against the New York Islanders, the Capitals improved to 3-2 without their captain.
There were no definite signs of injury to any player in the team’s last game. The Capitals’ healthy scratches against New York were Jakub Vrana, Dylan McIlrath, and Alex Alexeyev. Vrana has not played since November 21, Alexeyev has not since November 8, and McIlrath has not since November 3.
Arrived in Jersey#ALLCAPS | @Kia pic.twitter.com/cCGk2JuPQM
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 30, 2024
New Jersey (16-8-2) enters Saturday night as the Metropolitan Division leader, one point ahead of Washington (16-6-1). The Capitals, who hold three games in hand on New Jersey, are the hotter of the two teams, having won their last three games. The Devils had their own three-game winning streak put to an end in a 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday.
“I just think it’s going to be a very difficult game where there’s not a lot of space,” Carbery said. “You know that they’re going to play a structured game. They’ve got all the boxes checked when it comes to strengths from special teams, five-on-five, backend physicality, top six up front that can make you pay for any mistakes and also break you down in one-on-one situations.
“We’ll need our best tonight, without a doubt. Coming on the road, both teams in the same situation, playing back-to-backs. It should be a good test for us against a team that’s obviously right there in the standings with us.”
Jake Allen is the expected starter for New Jersey after Jacob Markstrom started their win over the Detroit Red Wings. Allen made 24 saves against Washington in New Jersey’s victory last week. Charlie Lindgren will be back in net for the Capitals after Logan Thompson got his 10th win of the season against the Islanders.
Update (6:43 pm): Spencer Carbery has reconfigured his top-six forward group.
Lineys!#CapsDevils | @JackDaniels_US pic.twitter.com/jZ6ojrUEK4
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) November 30, 2024
