NEW JERSEY DEVILS (16-8-2) vs. WASHINGTON CAPITALS (16-6-1)

New Jersey will face the Washington Capitals for the fourth and final time this season. The Devils are 2-0-1 in the first three showdowns. The two teams are atop the Metro Division.

You can watch on MSG or listen on the Devils Hockey Network. Puck drop is 7:08 p.m. ET.

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below. Tonight's game is presented by Flock Free Bird Control.

MORNING SKATE RECAP

NEWARK, NJ - As the Devils take on the Washington Capitals, they’ll be without forward Tomas Tatar. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said pregame that the winger is day-to-day and won’t be available tonight. Tatar only played 3:04 in the first period Friday night against Detroit. In Tatar’s absence, Shane Bowers draws into the lineup.

In other lineup news, Jake Allen will get the start against the Capitals as Jacob Markstrom backstopped the Devils to a victory against the Red Wings Friday night.

Familiar Foe

Tonight is the fourth game between these teams in the last month and a half. Keefe discussed what New Jersey has learned this season about Washington.

“We’ve learned that they’re a very good team,” Keefe explained. “Very good in all regards to their game. Offensively, they stress you lots of ways on the rush and in the offensive zone and they’re a resilient group. They’re never out of games, they found ways to pull wins out, not unlike our game last night, they’ve had a bunch of those types of games. It’s going to require a full 60 minute effort.”

New Jersey will look to have a strong start against Washington as part of their game plan, as the Devils have yet to open the scoring against the Capitals this season.

“Need to get to our game sooner,” head coach Sheldon Keefe shared pre-game. “We’ve played well in a lot of games and found ways to win but it’s taken us too long to get to it. We just need to play the way that we play when we’re playing well but get to it early.”

Hockey Fights Cancer 2024

The Devils will celebrate their annual Hockey Fights Cancer night presented by RWJBarnabas Health. Earlier this week, the team welcomed this year’s honoree, Theo, to join the team on a game day and get the full experience.

“It was great to welcome Theo in,” Keefe explained. “I think our guys are excited to be able to give him a moment, give him some time to get a look on the inside, and recognize the fight that he’s in. But to see him coming in with a smile on his face, very happy to see the guys and watch our practice, and come here and enjoy the experience of the game night. Give a little bit of a reprieve from the night that he’s going through and there’s perspective involved, we get something out of it as well.

“I do think it’s one of the many terrific initiatives that the NHL puts through and that the teams and players embrace.”

THE SCOOP

The Devils and Capitals are the No. 1 and 2 ranked teams in the Metro Division respectfully. New Jersey sits at the top with 34 points, one ahead of the Capitals’ 33, but Jersey has played three more games than Washington. This will be the fourth and final match between the two clubs. The Devils are 2-0-1 in the previous three matchups. Both teams are playing on the second half of back-to-back games with both teams having won on Friday afternoon.

The Devils are 11-4 in their last 15 games and 4-1 in their past five, which includes a 3-2 win in Washington. Captain Nico Hischier has four goals and six points in his last four games. His 14 goals lead the team. Jesper Bratt leads the club with 19 assists and 29 points.

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton leads the backend with four goals and 19 points. Goaltender Jake Allen’s last start was a win against Washington when he stopped 24 of 25 shots while earning a 3-2 victory.

Washington is 6-2 in its last eight games to maintain a strong push for the top of the division. Dylan Strome leads the Capitals in scoring with 34 points on the year. His 26 helpers also top the team. Alex Ovechkin has a team-best 15 goals despite having missed the past five games with an injury.

John Carlson still shoulders the load for the D corps. The 34-year-old blueliner paces the group with three goals, 13 assists and 16 points. Goaltenders Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren have evenly split the time in the net. Thompson is 10-1-1 in his 12 games this season.

WHO’S HOT

Devils: The Devils power-play struck for three goals at Detroit in a 5-4 win Friday afternoon. The team’s man-advantage unit has posted 11 goals in the past seven games.

Capitals: Forward Tom Wilson has five points (3g-2a) in his last three games. Wilson has three goals in his last two contests, including a two-goal performance Friday against the NY Islanders.

INJURIES

Devils: Bastian (jaw, IR), Lazar (knee, IR), Hatakka (shoulder)

Capitals: Ovechkin (fractured left fibula, IR), Milano (upper-body, IR)

REGULAR-SEASON RESULTS

• Oct. 12 at Washington, W 5-3
• Oct. 19 vs. Washington, L 6-5 OT
• Nov. 23 at Washington, W 3-2
• Nov. 30 vs. Washington

GAME NOTES

• The Devils and Capitals are both facing each other for the second half of back-to-back nights. The Devils defeated Detroit, 5-4, while Washington won against the NY Islanders, 5-4, in overtime.
• New Jersey is 2-0-1 in its past three games against Washington. Both Devils' wins have come on the road in Washington, D.C.
• Tomas Tatar and Nico Hischier have both notched two goals and five points in three games against Washington this season. Erik Haula (1g-4a) and Stefan Noesen (5a) both have recorded five points against the Caps.
• Tom Wilson has three goals in three games for Washington against the Devils this season. He has four points in total. Dylan Strome has a team-high five points (2g-3a) against the Devils on the year, while Connor McMichael posted four points (2g-2a).