NEWARK, NJ - In the seven previous meetings between the Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils, the Capitals have shown they can find ways to score time and time again. Throughout those games, Washington is averaging just shy of four goals scored. However, the Devils found a way to limit its opponent to just two goals on Friday. What will it take for New Jersey to achieve this once again in the series finale?
"Paying attention to our play away from the puck and in front of them, making sure we're slowing them down, and giving our D some time to break out," Devils head coach Lindy Ruff said. "When pucks go in deep, winning the wall battles. I think the wall battles are important. When the D get active and the D come down the wall, our forwards that are on the walls have to do a good job of making sure that we're winning our share of those battles."
The Devils have struggled putting up multiple goals against the Capitals this season. The March 9 game was the first and only time New Jersey scored four goals. In fact, in the previous two meetings, the Devils have scored one goal total.
"We're not a team that is going to score four or five goals a night so we have to play well defensively," Ruff said. "When we get the opportunities it's really bearing down on those key opportunities, those A+ opportunities to get them in the back of the net.
"Last game I felt we needed to do a much harder job for getting there for second opportunities. Putting ourselves in position to fight through the boxing out, the D trying to keep us from the net front to get in tight, to get deflections, get some second opportunities and create those offensive chances that can get our number up."
Today's Easter Sunday matchup has an earlier 3 p.m. ET start, and the Devils bench boss expects his team to be ready to go from the whistle.
"We have to be ready when the puck drops, we have to be ready to skate," Ruff said. "Offensively we have to get inside, we have to battle hard against a team that's hard to create chances to get around net front and create those second opportunities."
-Catherine Bogart
