Capitals at Devils
The Washington Capitals have yet to be slowed down offensively in their first season as defending Stanley Cup champions, scoring a total of 18 goals while earning five points in their initial three contests. Washington hopes to keep scoring at will when it visits the Metropolitan Division-rival New Jersey Devils on Thursday.
The Capitals tallied 13 times over their first two games before being held to five goals in their home victory over Vegas on Wednesday in a rematch of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Captain - and reigning Maurice Richard Trophy winner - Alex Ovechkin scored twice to double his season total while Evgeny Kuznetsov registered a goal and three assists for Washington, which has yielded a total of two goals in its two wins. New Jersey is resuming what technically is a season-opening five-game homestand after posting a 5-2 triumph over Edmonton in Sweden on Saturday in its 2018-19 opener. Kyle Palmieri and Travis Zajac scored two goals apiece in the victory while reigning Hart Trophy recipient Taylor Hall was kept off the scoresheet by his former team.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, MSG Plus (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (2-0-1): Ovechkin's second goal on Wednesday was the 611th of his career, moving him past Hall-of-Famer Bobby Hull for 17th place on the all-time list. The 33-year-old Russian, who came within one tally of his eighth 50-goal campaign in 2017-18, will soar past Jarome Iginla (625), Joe Sakic (625), Dave Andreychuk (640) and Brendan Shanahan (656) with another 50-goal output this campaign. Nicklas Backstrom scored his first goal of the season in the win over Vegas and added an assist, putting him five away from 600 for his career.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (1-0-0): Zajac is off to a good start after producing 14 goals or fewer each of the last four seasons. The 33-year-old former first-round draft pick hopes to hit a milestone soon as he is six assists away from 300 for his career. Palmieri has picked up where he left off last regular season, which he ended by registering four goals and four assists over his final seven contests.
OVERTIME
1. Capitals RW T.J. Oshie, whose 18 goals last season was his lowest total since 2012-13 (seven in 30 games with St. Louis), is tied with Ovechkin for the team lead with four.
2. New Jersey D Damon Severson notched an assist in the season opener, leaving him six points shy of 100 in the NHL.
3. All three of Kuznetsov's goals this season have come on the power play.