Overview
- Puck drop is 7:00 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena, with Washington at 34-27-8 (76 points) and New Jersey at 35-31-2 (72 points).
- Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said there will be no lineup changes and confirmed Logan Thompson as the starter in goal.
- Washington has surged at home and, with 13 games left, is viewed as needing roughly nine or more wins to stay in the postseason hunt.
- Rookie defenseman Cole Hutson scored in his NHL debut, and Alex Ovechkin recorded his 25th goal of the season to match Gordie Howe for most 25-goal campaigns, per team coverage.
- New Jersey enters on a three-game winning streak led by back-to-back three-point outings from Jack Hughes, and the first two meetings this season were decided beyond regulation.