The New Jersey Devils visit the Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena on Saturday, October 17, 2026, with puck drop set for 1:00 PM EDT.
Matchup: New Jersey Devils (4-3-0, 8 points in 2026-27) at Washington Capitals (4-3-0, 8 points in 2026-27)
Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
Puck drop: 1:00 PM EDT
Venue: Capital One Arena
How to watch: WSH: SN, NHLN, MNMT · NJD: MSGSN
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
New Jersey Devils News & Notes
New Jersey’s scoring has lagged behind its play-driving through the early schedule. In a 4-1 loss to Ottawa at Prudential Center, the Devils outplayed the Senators for long stretches and outshot them by eleven in the third period, yet finished with one goal. Shane Pinto scored nine seconds into the second period, and Stephen Halliday added a second at 8:40 after Brett Pesce fell in front. The defeat dropped New Jersey to 2-3-0.
The Devils picked up a big win on Thursday night in the Hudson River Rivalry. They beat the Rangers 7-1 as Nico Daws picked up his first win of the season stopping 18 of the 19 shots he faced. Luke Hughes led the way with two goals and a plus-three. Evan Rodrigues also added a goal and an assist in the win.
Washington Capitals News & Notes
Alex Ovechkin told his teammates that his 22nd NHL season will be his last, and the captain’s farewell tour opened in Carolina against the Hurricanes at Lenovo Center. The Capitals acknowledged beforehand that they did not know quite what to expect from the tribute, and Ovechkin spent the morning skate reflecting on the start of the goodbye. Logan Thompson drew the start in that game, with Spencer Carbery calling the rest of his lineup a game-time decision.
Washington’s lineup remains in flux. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Justin Sourdif have both been unavailable, Sourdif due to illness, while Roy has been upgraded to contact and has skated with the group. Carbery moved Ryan Leonard to the fourth line to give him more defensive responsibility, citing positive signs of growth. The Capitals have also surfaced in Dylan Larkin trade speculation, though they carry less than $200,000 in cap space, with Dubois signed at $8.5 million through 2031.
New Jersey Devils Projected Lines
Line 1: Arseny Gritsyuk – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Line 2: Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer
Line 3: Anthony Mantha – Evan Rodrigues – Stefan Noesen
Line 4: Amadeus Lombardi – Cody Glass – Jesper Boqvist
Pair 1: Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Pair 2: Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Pair 3: Declan Chisholm – Johnathan Kovacevic
Goaltenders: Jake Allen – Nico Daws
New Jersey Devils Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Jesper Bratt – Nico Hischier – Evan Rodrigues – Jack Hughes – Luke Hughes
Power play, Second unit: Timo Meier – Dawson Mercer – Anthony Mantha – Arseny Gritsyuk – Dougie Hamilton
Penalty kill, First unit: Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer – Jonas Siegenthaler – Brett Pesce
Penalty kill, Second unit: Cody Glass – Jesper Bratt – Dougie Hamilton – Johnathan Kovacevic
Washington Capitals Projected Lines
Line 1: Alex Tuch – Dylan Strome – Jordan Kyrou
Line 2: Aliaksei Protas – Boone Jenner – Tom Wilson
Line 3: Alex Ovechkin – Ilya Protas – Ivan Miroshnichenko
Line 4: Ethen Frank – Anthony Beauvillier – Ryan Leonard
Pair 1: Jakob Chychrun – Timothy Liljegren
Pair 2: Martin Fehervary – Vincent Desharnais
Pair 3: Cole Hutson – Justin Holl
Goaltenders: Logan Thompson – Charlie Lindgren
Washington Capitals Special Teams
Power play, First unit: Tom Wilson – Dylan Strome – Ryan Leonard – Alex Ovechkin – Jakob Chychrun
Power play, Second unit: Alex Tuch – Ilya Protas – Jordan Kyrou – Cole Hutson – Ivan Miroshnichenko
Penalty kill, First unit: Aliaksei Protas – Tom Wilson – Martin Fehervary – Vincent Desharnais
Penalty kill, Second unit: Boone Jenner – Alex Tuch – Jakob Chychrun – Timothy Liljegren
Players To Watch
Luke Hughes — New Jersey Devils
Hughes is coming off a two-goal, five-shot night in 24:58 of ice time, and the underlying work backs it up. Box Score Junkie has him at 67.0% Corsi-for and 64.1% Fenwick through 169 minutes this season, with 80.0 shot attempts for per 60 and three goals on 1.2 expected. Shots-on-goal props deserve a look.
Alex Tuch — Washington Capitals
Tuch had a three-point night last time out, two goals and an assist on three shots in 18:49. Box Score Junkie’s 2026-27 numbers show five goals on 3.3 expected, a plus-1.7 finishing edge, though his 49.1% Corsi-for over 132 minutes suggests the territorial play hasn’t matched the conversion rate.
Injury Report
New Jersey Devils
Luke Evangelista (RW) — Out, Illness, expected back Tuesday, October 20
Connor Brown (RW) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Tuesday, October 20
Nick Bjugstad (C) — Injured Reserve, Pectoral, expected back Tuesday, January 19
Seamus Casey (D) — Injured Reserve, Knee, expected back Saturday, November 21
Washington Capitals
Justin Sourdif (RW) — Day-To-Day, Illness, expected back Saturday, October 17
Pierre-Luc Dubois (LW) — Out, Illness, expected back Tuesday, October 20
Matt Roy (D) — Injured Reserve, Lower Body, expected back Saturday, October 17
Rasmus Sandin (D) — Injured Reserve, Knee, expected back Saturday, December 26
Patrick Thomas (C) — Injured Reserve, Upper Body, expected back Saturday, October 24
Next Up
New Jersey Devils: host the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, October 20.
Washington Capitals: host the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, October 20.