NEWARK, NJ - The Devils are hosting the Washington Capitals on Saturday afternoon and one of the key storylines is: don't let Alex Ovechkin get to 700.
The Russian superstar is currently sitting at 699 NHL goals and no team around the league wants to be a footnote in the history books or the answer to some hockey trivia question.
Stop Ovie.
"That's the game plan every time we play them," said Devils veteran forward Travis Zajac. "It doesn't change much for us. He's had a heck of a career. The guy just finds ways to score goals. We have to make sure we're sharp when we're on the ice against him."
"You don't get 699 goals being one dimensional," said Kyle Palmieri. "His shot is his most lethal weapon but you've just got to do your best to take away his time and space."
"Anytime you play them, he's a guy you have to keep an eye on," said Interim Head Coach Alain Nasreddine. "He wants to get 700 and we don't want it to happen against us.
"It's not the first time we've played against Ovi. Their offense, they spread the zone well. The one game we did really well and the other they really exposed us."
DIFFERENCE MAKERS
As trades and injuries continue to reshape the Devils roster, more and more players are getting recalled from the American Hockey League. As of late, those call-ups have made impactful plays. Nick Merkley and Joey Anderson are probably the best example of it.
"It's extremely important," said Nasreddine. "You know what you're getting from those guys most of the time. They're on adrenaline, they want to do well, you don't have to worry about their effort, and that's what I like. You get those young guys who have something to prove and that's our reality right now. There will be more to come and guys are going to get opportunities.
"The guys who have come up have done really well. That's a great job by the coaching staff in Binghamton getting those guys ready and playing the right way. All those guys who have come up have made a positive impact. It's been great for us. It brings energy."
Merkley has a goal and an assist in three games. Anderson has two goals and two assists in nine games.
LINEUP NOTES
The Devils were again without defensemen Sami Vatanen and Will Butcher, who are both dealing with separate injuries.
The line rushes and defensive pairings on Friday were the same as the previous game:
Hughes-Hischier-Palmieri
Bratt-Zacha-Gusev
Wood-Zajac-Simmonds
Hayden-Rooney-Anderson
Mueller-Subban
Mermis-Severson
White-Carrick
Blackwood
Schneider
-- Chris Wescott, NewJerseyDevils.com
