New Jersey Devils Set to Face Washington Capitals in Third Meeting of the Season The New Jersey Devils will take on the Washington Capitals tonight in their third matchup of the season. The Devils have already secured two victories against the Capitals this year, with both games ending in a 6-3 scoreline. The team’s offensive prowess against the Rangers has been notable, as they defeated the Rangers by the same margin on March 7th and March 18th, accumulating 12 goals in their last two games against the struggling Eastern Conference team. Despite the Rangers’ continued struggles, the Devils’ ability to dominate them remains a highlight of their season. Jack Hughes and Connor Brown led the offensive charge, each recording a hat trick of points with a goal and two assists. Jesper Bratt also contributed with a goal, marking his first consecutive game with a goal since January 27th and 29th. Sheldon Keefe, the Devils’ head coach, has shown a strong preference for Jacob Markstrom in net, starting him in nine of the last 10 games. This decision has sparked speculation that Keefe believes the Devils still have a chance to make the playoffs, relying heavily on Markstrom’s performance to keep their hopes alive. Meanwhile, the Capitals extended their playoff hopes with a 4-1 victory over the Ottawa Senators. The game saw Alex Ovechkin notch his 25th goal of the season, bringing his career total to 922. Tom Wilson added his 25th goal of the year in the second period, helping the Capitals secure the win. Ottawa made a late push, cutting the deficit to one goal in the third period, but Washington sealed the victory with two empty-net goals. The win places the Capitals six points away from the final two wild-card spots, though they still have games in hand on both the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings.#new_jersey_devils #jesper_bratt #jack_hughes #washington_capitals #connor_brown
New Jersey Devils Host Calgary Flames in Key Regular-Season Clash The New Jersey Devils will host the Calgary Flames in a crucial matchup as part of their ongoing seven-game homestand. Puck drop is set for 7:12 p.m. ET Thursday at Prudential Center. The game marks the fifth installment of the Devils’ homestand and the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Devils, with a record of 32-30-2, aim to extend their playoff hopes, while the Flames, at 25-32-7, are looking to secure a strong finish to their season despite missing the postseason. Head coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed that goaltender Jacob Markstrom will start for the Devils, despite the team’s morning skate being shortened due to Markstrom’s preference to avoid early-game skating. “We gave him the option,” Keefe said, “and he chose to stay off.” The Devils’ lineup features adjustments, including the reuniting of Jesper Bratt with Jack Hughes and the return of Arseny Gritsyuk to play with Cody Glass and Lenni Hameenaho. “It’s a little bit of an adjustment,” Glass said, “but we’ve played with Gritsyuk before, so we know what he brings. Communication is key.” Glass also praised Hameenaho’s growth, noting the rookie’s adaptability to NHL defense. The Devils’ morning skate included all players except Markstrom, who opted out. The team’s practice schedule has allowed for significant preparation during their break, with Keefe highlighting the value of extended practice time. “We’ve been able to get some good practice time,” he said, “and I’m hopeful that will continue to be productive. Between coming out of the break and the gaps between games, I feel we’ve practiced more in these last few weeks than we have virtually the entire season.#calgary_flames #new_jersey_devils #sheldon_keefe #jesper_bratt #prudential_center
Detroit Red Wings Face New Jersey Devils in Key NHL Matchup The New Jersey Devils will host the Detroit Red Wings in a crucial matchup as they continue their seven-game home stand. The game, set for 7:00 pm EST on Saturday, marks the Devils’ second contest of the season against the Red Wings. The Devils enter the game on a four-game winning streak, including a 6-3 victory over the New York Rangers in their most recent game. This win extended Jacob Markstrom’s personal streak of four consecutive victories, with the netminder starting five straight games for the Devils. The Devils’ offensive surge was highlighted by a dominant third period against the Rangers, where they scored three unanswered goals. Jesper Bratt opened the scoring just 1:06 into the game, but the Rangers responded with two quick goals. Dawson Mercer tied the game at 2-2 with 13 seconds remaining in the first period. The teams traded goals in the second period before the Devils took control in the third. Jack Hughes, who tallied three goals in the game, led the charge with an ENG goal that completed his hat trick. Hughes’ performance marked a career-high in goals for the season, signaling a potential turning point in his campaign. The Red Wings, meanwhile, struggled in their most recent game, falling 3-1 to the Florida Panthers at home. The loss extended their skid to two games and marked their third defeat in five contests. Matthew Tkachuk led the Panthers with a hat trick, including an ENG goal in the third period, while Alex DiBrincat scored the lone goal for Detroit. John Gisbon was in net for the Red Wings, but the team’s recent struggles have left uncertainty about their starting goaltender for Saturday’s game, with no official word on whether John Gisbon or Cam Talbot will take the ice.#new_jersey_devils #detroit_red_wings #jacob_markstrom #jesper_bratt #jack_hughes
