Devils Face Caps With Pivotal Playoff Implications | PREVIEW

New Jersey heads to the nation's capital to face Washington in a crucial game in the playoff race. Puck drops at 7:30 p.m. ET.

You can watch on MSGSN or TNT, or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.

Read below for your game preview and pre-game story below.

PRE-GAME STORY

WASHINGTON, DC -

There are a lot of question marks for the Devils heading into tonight's matchup against the Capitals in Washington tonight. Head coach Lindy Ruff alluded to some of his forwards dealing with issues that could keep them out of the lineup tonight. Because of the uncertainty, forward Graeme Clarke has been recalled from the Utica Comets and could potentially make his NHL debut tonight.

“I think you always want to get to the NHL as fast as you can, any player would tell you that, but for me, it’s been a little bit of a journey," Clarke, who is in his fourth year with the Utica Comets said, "But at the same time I feel like I’m really prepared now. A little extra prepared, but that’s not a bad thing at all. My development over the last few years has been good, the coaching staff (in Utica) has really helped me and to be here now is exciting and I’m just ready to go now.”

Clarke is Utica’s second-leading scorer, with 21 points in 27 games, just one point behind Xavier Parent. His 11 goals lead all Comets.

"We know that he's a skilled offensive player and has worked hard on his all-around game," Ruff said, "We feel that last year he came close to getting in the lineup."

200 Straight

Dawson Mercer has reached yet another milestone in his NHL career with his 200th game on the horizon. Mercer has been virtually unstoppable since he made his NHL debut, not having missed a single game. That's not an easy task, necessarily, for a young player starting their NHL career, but Mercer has made the most of every situation, even when the game hasn't been going his way. He has the trust of his coaching staff.

"I think we’ve let him play through, in his first 200 games, where there have been stretches where he’s been allowed to grow," Ruff said, "He’s made some mistakes that sometimes a young player would come out of the lineup and he’s been able to stay in.”

Mercer made his NHL debut on Oct. 21, 2021, and has amassed 116 points (54g-62a) in regular season play. During the 2023 playoffs, Mercer added seven points (3g-4a) in 12 games played.

PREVIEW

DEVILS (19-14-2) vs. CAPITALS (18-11-6)

Head-to-Head

The Devils and Capitals meet for the third time this season. but first in Washington, when the two teams meet on Wednesday night.

In their previous two matchups, both in New Jersey, the Devils have gone 0-2-0 while giving up 11 goals and scoring six of their own.

Devils Team Scope:

The Devils look to start the new year on a winning note, playing their first game of 2024 against the Washington Capitals. The Devils sit two points out of a wild card spot. New Jersey will face another injury challenge on Wednesday night after Timo Meier left their game in Boston and continues an evaluation process before it can be determined whether he can return to play.

Head coach Lindy Ruf suggested it was a 'mid-body' injury and not one that is a re-aggravation of the previous injury that kept him out of the lineup for a significant time.

Jack Hughes leads all Devils in points with 44 (15g-29a) in 30 games, while he and Tyler Toffoli hold the dual lead in goals with 15 to date.

Capitals Team Scope:

The Washington Capitals will be on the second half of a back-to-back when they host the Devils on Wednesday night. The Caps spent Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, beating the Penguins 4-3 to end a four-game losing streak. Against the Penguins, the Capitals did concede a 4-0 lead but managed to hold off a Pens comeback.

Center Dylan Strome leads the Capitals, who sit two points ahead of the Devils in the standings, in both points (22) and goals (13) through 35 games played.

Washington has been a strong home team this season with a 9-4-4 record, despite being 2-3-0 in their past five home games.

By the Numbers:

Alexander Ovechkin, who continues to try to break Wayne Gretzky's scoring record, scored his eighth goal of the season on Tuesday night against the Penguins and has two goals in his previous two games and three in his past six.

Luke Hughes enters Wednesday's game on a three-game goal-scoring streak. The streak is the longest stretch for a rookie defenseman in Devils team history since 1982-83.

Dawson Mercer will suit up in his 200th career game on Wednesday night, having not missed a single game since the start of his NHL career. 

Injuries:

Devils

Hamilton (pectoral surgery - IR)
Nosek (foot - IR)
Meier (mid-body, undisclosed)

Capitals

Lindgren (neck)
Pacioretty (Achilles - IR)