DON’T FORGET: It’s a 1 PM puck drop today. Watch on CSN and listen 106.7
The NJ Devils are on the cusp of overtaking the NY Islanders for the third-place slot in the Metropolitan Division and are in position for a wild card position. The Caps are entering the tough stretch to the playoffs and are going to start meeting some challenging competition to maintain their lead in the Division let alone the league. This is the second of four meetings with the Devils; last time Caps overtook New Jersey, 5-3.
Heading into this afternoon’s game we have no Marcus Johansson, Jay Beagle, or Brooks Orpik.
Connor Carrick is up from Hershey as backup D.
Andre Burakovsky is on fire with five goals and seven points in the last five games.
Paul Carey (Hershey) in for MoJo
It’s a MARTY PARTY in Jersey. The Devils will celebrate goaltender Martin Brodeur’s great career on Saturday. The team will also retire his number 30 jersey.
Caps Forward Lines
Ovechkin (8) Backstrom (19) Oshie (77)
Burakovsky (65) Kuznetsov (92) Williams (14)
Chimera (25) Richards (10) Wilson (43)
Laich (21) Carey* (28) Latta (46)
*Could be Galiev, we will know for sure after press with Coach Trotz
Defensemen Parings
Alzner (28) Niskanen (2)
Schmidt (88) Carlson (74)
Orlov (9) Chorney (4)
Goalies
Braden Holtby (70)** Philipp Grubauer (31)
** Expected in the net tonight.
Healthy Scratch: *Stan Galiev
*Will update when available
Injury List
Marcus Johansson (3 missed); Brooks Orpik (35 missed); Jay Beagle (13 missed)
Reachable Milestones:
Andre Burakovsky hits 100 NHL games today.
Evgeny Kuznetsov only needs three points to reach 100 NHL/Caps career points.
Nicky Backstrom one goal away from a new Caps franchise milestone: (162) for 12th place.
Karl Alzner needs two points for 100 NHL and Caps career points.
Tom Wilson is two games away to 200 NHL games played.
The Devils Projected Lineup
Forwards
Blandisi (64) Henrique (14) Stempniak (20)
Kalinin (51) Zajac (19) Palmieri (21)
Boucher (12) Josefson (16) Kennedy (48)
Farnham (23) Gionta (11) Tootoo (22)
Defensive Pairings
Greene (6) Larsson (5)
Gelinas (44) Schlemko (8)
Helgeson (39) Moore (2)
Goalies
**Schneider (35) Kinkaid (1)
** Expected in the net.
Injury List
Ryanne Clowe, Patrik Elias, Jiri Tlusty, Michael Cammall
