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Game preview
The Washington Capitals are back in action Saturday afternoon, but an illness making its way through the locker room is complicating their plans.
The Capitals (4-3-0) will host the New Jersey Devils (4-3-0) at Capital One Arena for a 1 pm matinee, looking to build on Wednesday’s entertaining 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. Washington will be without Pierre-Luc Dubois, who will miss his fourth consecutive games due to illness and was placed on injured reserve Saturday morning. Justin Sourdif is also dealing with an illness, prompting the Capitals to recall veteran forward Jonny Brodzinski from the Hershey Bears.
The Devils, meanwhile, arrive in Washington riding a two-game winning streak after demolishing the rival New York Rangers 7-1 on Thursday. New Jersey has its own illness concerns, with forward Luke Evangelista sidelined.
The two Metropolitan Division rivals enter Saturday with identical records and plenty to play for as they look to build momentum early in the season.
2026–27 NHL Metropolitan Division Standings
| Rank | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | P% | RW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carolina Hurricanes | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 13 | .813 | 5 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 12 | .667 | 6 |
| 3 | Washington Capitals | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .571 | 4 |
| 4 | New Jersey Devils | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | .571 | 2 |
| 5 | New York Islanders | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 | .500 | 3 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | .438 | 1 |
| 7 | Columbus Blue Jackets | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | .400 | 1 |
| 8 | Philadelphia Flyers | 9 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | .167 | 0 |
Standings as of October 17, 2026, before afternoon games.
Puck drop is scheduled for 1 pm, with the game airing locally on Monumental Sports Network. Follow along here for lineup news, highlights, analysis, and live updates throughout the afternoon.
Lines
Washington Capitals
New Jersey Devils
Goaltending matchup
Tunnel shenanigans
1st Period
Tuch-Strome-Kyrou and Chychrun-Liljegren get the start for the Capitals while Meier-Hischier-Mercer and Hughes-Pesce
Puck is dropped.
Ryan Leonard makes a steal, but stopped by Jake Allen on a two-on-one break.
Kyrou and Tuch now have a two-on-none, but again Allen makes the save – this time with his blocker.
Penalty kill
Alex Tuch cross-checking penalty of Declan Chisholm at 3:29
It appears Dougie Hamilton rings the post at the end of the Devils’ first power play, but the Caps kill it.
Devils going right back to the power play.
Penalty kill
Boone Jenner illegal check to the head penalty of Timo Meier at 8:03
A second after Jenner’s penalty expires, Gritsyuk fires a shot near the half wall that bounced off Logan Thompson and in.
1-0 New Jersey Devils
Goal: Arseny Gritsyuk (3). Assists: D. Mercer (4). Time: 10:04
Justin Holl just got massively walked by Jesper Bratt. Wow. What a move.
Power play
Brett Pesce interference penalty on Cole Hutson at 15:10
Ryan Leonard with an unbelievable highlight-reel goal to score on the power play. Holy cow.
1-1 tie
PPG: Ryan Leonard (3). Assists: J. Chychrun (3), L. Thompson (1). Time: 16:42
At intermission: The game’s tied 1-1. Shots are 8-7 Capitals.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
Nice sauce pass by Ovechkin and Ilya Protas has his first goal of the season.
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Ilya Protas (1). Assists: A. Ovechkin (3), V. Desharnais (2). Time: 1:16
Strome works a give and go with Jordan Kyrou in the slot, and scores his first of the year!
3-1 Washington Capitals
Goal: Dylan Strome (1). Assists: A. Tuch (2), J. Kyrou (3). Time: 4:36
Power play
Luke Hughes hooking penalty on Tom Wilson at 9:03
Alex Ovechkin wide open from his office and he hits the side of the net.
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