The New Jersey Devils made the Stanley Cup Finals a year ago but many pundits felt that this team is not a guaranteed playoff team this season. Two games in, the Devils might be proving everyone wrong.
In the team's first game, New Jersey took down the New York Islanders 2-1 before destroying the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 in their home opener. The team has continued its form from the Stanley Cup playoff run. 40-year old Martin Brodeur has looked solid when called upon to make big saves and the team's defense has been successful at stifling the oppositions' top players.
On the offensive side the team has gotten strong play from its top players. Ilya Kovalchuk has three points in the two games including a nifty penalty shot goal against Philadelphia. David Clarkson has scored two goals in as many games and looks to continue the strong goal scoring instincts he displayed a year ago when he found the back of the net 30 times.
On Friday the Devils host a team that has nothing going right for it. The Washington Capitals were expected to be a top contender in the Eastern Conference, but the team has looked woeful in every possible way. The Capitals have lost all three of their first games and allowed at least four goals in each effort. The penalty kill has conceded at least two goals in each game and the team's offense has only managed six goals through three matches. Superstar Alex Ovechkin played in Russia throughout the lockout and was expected to be in better form than most other players. However, Ovechkin has looked lost in new coach Adam Oates' system and the team has struggled to find any rhythm or chemistry. The team's goaltending has been poor with neither Braden Holtby nor Michael Neuvirth able to answer the call.
Prediction: The Devils are organized; the Capitals are not. The Devils should skate circles around Washington in a 4-1 win.
Start Time: 7 PM EST
TV Info: MSG
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