Capitals at Devils
THE STORY: The Washington Capitals will look for more offense from their “Big Three” when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Captain Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin each scored at home Tuesday as the Capitals downed the Nashville Predators 4-1. It’s the first time all three offensive threats scored in the same game since Oct. 30, 2010. Washington is 5-5-0 in its last 10 games since head coach Dale Hunter replaced fired Bruce Boudreau. New Jersey, 6-4-0 in its last 10, has the NHL’s best penalty kill at 92.6 percent. On Tuesday, Travis Zajac scored the lone New Jersey goal in a 4-1 home loss to the New York Rangers. It was Zajac’s first goal in just three games this season after returning from offseason surgery on his Achilles’ tendon.
TV: 7 p.m. ET. CSW, MSG+
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (17-14-1): Washington, 6-9-0 on the road, has been getting solid goaltending of late from Michal Neuvirth, who made 20 saves against Nashville for his fifth win of the season. Neuvirth has allowed just three goals over his last three games. He splits time with starter Tomas Vokoun, who is 12-8-0 this season. The Capitals continue to wait for Ovechkin to break out offensively. He is struggling this season with just 11 goals and 23 points in 32 games.
ABOUT THE DEVILS (18-4-1): New Jersey, 7-6-1 at home, has lost just once in its last five outings. The Devils will also look to take an edge in the season series with Washington. The two split a home-and-home series Nov. 11-12. The Devils won 3-2 in a shootout in Washington after dropping the first contest 3-1 on home ice. Future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur (8-9-0) made 17 saves in the loss to the Rangers. He has split duties this season with Johan Hedberg (10-5-1).
OVERTIME:
1. Washington RW Mike Knuble played in his 1,000th NHL game in Tuesday’s win over Nashville.
2. Devils leading scorer Patrik Elias is expected back in the lineup after sitting up Tuesday’s game with the flu.