The Devils franchise will face the Washington Capitals for their first divisional showdown Wednesday night at
Prudential Center
.
You can watch the game on MSG+ or listen on the Devils Hockey Network.
Read the game preview below and check back for videos, lineup updates, our Pre-Game Story and more.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS

WATCH LIVE
Devils Live Pre-Game Show with host Catherine Bogart and analyst Sam Kasan begins at 6:20 PM ET
After the game, tune into our Live Post-Game Show with host Chris Wescott and analyst Matt Loughlin
GAME DAY VIDEO
Devils Minute:
Facing a Great
Player Interviews:
Hischier
|
Wedgewood
Head Coach Interivew:
Lindy Ruff
BY THE NUMBERS
Stats Comparison: Devils vs. Capitals
Media Game Notes: COMING SOON
Devils Player Statistics
 Player Statistics
NHL Standings
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DETAILS: Win Speech 2
DETAILS: Hamilton Meets Niedermayer
SCOREBOARD: Intro Video 2021-22
SCOREBOARD: Remembering Broadway
RECENT BLOGS & ARTICLES
FEATURE: Devils Adjusting Centers Without Hughes
BLOG: Devils Practice Before Divisional Game
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10 TAKEAWAYS: Flying Out the Gates
PODCAST: Four Key Voices
TV & RADIO
You can watch tonight's game within the Devils region on MSG+.
You can listen to tonight's game on the Devils Hockey Network.
There are still limited tickets available. Buy them here!

INSIDE THE DEVILS

Devils practiced in Newark Wednesday in preparation for Washington; Lindy Ruff provides updates on Jack Hughes and more.
>> READ MORE IN THE INSIDE THE DEVILS BLOG

PRE-GAME STORY

NEWARK, NJ - Though the Devils already knew center Jack Hughes would not be in the lineup for Thursday's game, the
club did provide an update on his status
. He suffered a dislocated left shoulder that will not require surgery and he'll be re-evaluated next week. Full details here.
"It's bad, but it probably could have been worse," head coach Lindy Ruff said. "He was off to a great start. We had a real great conversation yesterday. Talked about the injury, talked about the amount of time, talked about the fact that he's young and going to heal quick. Getting back and being ready to take off where he finished off here. Obviously, very disappointed. Pretty down on being hurt, but I just tried to pick him up a little bit.
"He's going to feel pretty good in a hurry. Then it's just the strengthening and getting him back to where we need him to be."
The Devils will turn the page and try to keep winning in Hughes' absence.
"You never want to see a guy get hurt. I feel bad for Jack," captain Nico Hischier said. "It was a great start. He's a big part of our group. At the end of the day, you have to focus on who's in the lineup and play for those guys who are not in the lineup. We'll try our best tonight and hopefully he'll feel better soon."
Goalie Rotation
Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood, who skated Thursday for the first time in over a week, is currently out of the lineup with a heel injury. Add Jonathan Bernier (lower-body) to that list, as he will not play against Washington.
"He's just not going to play today," Ruff said of Bernier. "We'll see how he's feeling tomorrow. It really is a day-to-day situation."
Enter: Scott Wedgewood. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound netminder will make his season debut between the pipes for the Devils.
"I'm really looking forward to it. Another chance to be in the net in the NHL," Wedgewood said. "It's nice to get in there. The team has been playing well the first two (games). The crowds have been fun. Just another day at the office."
Wedgewood, 29, had a solid season last year, even if the numbers seem out of touch with that statement. He was cast into a backup role following the sudden and unexpected retirement of Corey Crawford. And despite the circumstances, Wedgewood played his first full season in the NHL while appearing in 16 games.
"It shows that you'll need depth in all positions and goaltending is the most crucial of all of those," Ruff said. "(Wedgewood) stepped in last year and gave us a lot of good hockey games. He's going to need to be able to step in and play well for us tonight."
Wedgewood was an unrestricted free agent this past summer and could have signed anywhere. He opted to return to the Devils with the hopes of earning a spot in New Jersey. Now with two goaltenders on the mend, Wedgewood is getting his opportunity.
"Best foot forward and show them what I got," he said.
Backing up Wedgewood will be prospect
Nico Daws, who was recalled
from Utica earlier in the morning.
no caps
The Devils will face their first divisional opponent of the season, the Capitals. Last season, New Jersey lost all eight contests to Washington, however, six of those were one-goal losses and two required overtime.
"We had a lot of great opportunities and didn't finish those opportunities," Ruff said of last season's series. "One that sticks out in my mind was when we got down in Washington. We came back in that game. I think (Dmitry) Kulikov hit a goal post. We had another great opportunity right in the slot that we didn't score on.
"If you want to take down a real good team, when you get those opportunities - they're a pretty good team at limiting them - you have to take advantage of them."
The Devils learned what they need to do to be successful against Washington.
"We have to play our game," Hischier said. "Our skating, those games last year, you could see when we used our skating, they had trouble with us. We have to put the puck behind their D, make them turn. Just 60 minutes with a lot of speed."
The Devils would love to flip some of those results and be on the plus side of those one-goal games.
"Last year they had our number, but it's a new season," Wedgewood said. "We have a new team. I'm looking forward to going out there and paying them back a little bit. They're a good team. They're offensive. They've got guys that can shoot the puck, score and make plays. We're going to dial in to what they want to do and play our game.
"Manage the puck. They capitalize on opportunities. Can't give them power play. Can't give them odd-man rushes."

PREVIEW

TV:7:00 PM ET; Televised on MSG+
Head-to-Head
The Devils and Capitals face each other for the first time in the 2021-22 season. Last year, Washington won all eight meetings between the two clubs, though six of those contests were decided by one goal with two games requiring overtime.
Devils team scope:
The Devils are off to a hot start to the season and their opening five-game homestand after winning the first two contests: Chicago (4-3 OT), Seattle (4-2).
New Jersey has spread out its scoring in the first two games with 14 different players recording a point. Several milestones have been hit in the opening two games with rookie Dawson Mercer recording his first game, assist and goal, Colton White recording his first-career point (assist) and Mason Geertsen playing his first game.
Meanwhile, newcomers Dougie Hamilton, who scored his first goal as a Devil just 17 seconds into the season opener, Ryan Graves, who has three assists and a plus-7, and Jimmy Vesey, who scored Tuesday's game-winning goal, have made an immediate impact.
The team may be without center Jack Hughes, who suffered an undisclosed injury in Tuesday's win against Seattle.
Capitals team scope:
The Capitals have recorded points in all three of their opening games, going 2-0-1, which includes an impressive 6-3 victory Tuesday night against Colorado.
Evgeny Kuznetsov is having a solid beginning to the season with two goals and six points, including a three-point night (2G-1A) against the Avalanche. As expected, Alex Ovechkin is lighting the lamp with frequency, scoring four goals (and adding two assists) in the opening three games.
By the Numbers:
Oct. 19 has become an epic milestone day for the current Devils group. Nico Hischier, 2017, Jack Hughes, 2019, and Dawson Mercer, 2021, all recorded their first-career NHL goals on that date.
Kuznetslov's multi-point effort against Colorado was the 17th multi-goal game and 28th three-point night of his career.
Injury Updates:
Devils
Blackwood (heel)
Hughes (undisclosed)
Smith (lower-body)
Wood (undisclosed)
Capitals
Nicklas Backstrom (hip)