Game information/links

Date

Friday, March 20, 2026

Game preview

Fresh off Cole Hutson’s exciting NHL debut, the Washington Capitals (34-7-8, 76 points) are back for their third game of a four-game homestand, facing off against the New Jersey Devils (35-31-2, 72 points) at Capital One Arena.

The Devils enter the game on a three-game winning streak and victors of seven of their last 10, creeping back into the morass of Eastern Conference teams sitting outside a playoff spot. The Devils have been hot since Jack Hughes returned from Italy after scoring the Gold Medal Goal for Team USA over Canada. The Devils’ star forward has recorded consecutive three-point nights coming into Friday’s game and has posted 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) in his 11 games since the Olympics.

The Capitals, who may need to win out to have a shot at making the postseason, are now seven points behind third-place Columbus in the Metropolitan Division — they leapfrogged over the New York Islanders last night in the standings — and eight points behind the Boston Bruins and Detroit Red Wings for the first and second wild card spots in the East.

The Capitals will roll with the same group that helped push the team to a 4-1 win on Wednesday over the Ottawa Senators. During the morning skate, Spencer Carbery revealed that there would be no lineup changes for the Capitals, but the lines will move around some. Logan Thompson will get the start. Ivan Miroshnichenko will be healthy-scratched for a seventh-straight game since being called up from the Hershey Bears.

Puck drop for tonight’s game is at 7 pm. The game is airing on Monumental Sports Network.

Lines
Washington Capitals

Ovechkin

Strome

Beauvillier

McMichael

Sourdif

Leonard

New Jersey Devils

Cotter

Bjugstad

Tsyplakov

Goalie matchup

Stats

.914

.906

+27.0

+6.2

Record

23-9-3

13-8-0

🍕

🪦

Tunnel shenanigans

1st period

Puck is dropped!

Five minutes in, eagerly awaiting WSH’s first shot on goal.

If you had Connor McMichael on your “first SOG by” bingo square, mark it off.

Jack Hughes’ scoring chance was sabotaged by Cole Hutson.

Leonard settles the puck and scores.

🚨

1-o Washington Capitals

R.LEONARD(15) 22 B.DUHAIME(4) 57 T.VAN RIEMSDYK(9)

Logan Thompson has the answer for Jack Hughes with a flashy glove save.

Thompson with a big stop on Bratt in the final minute.

At intermission: After a slow start, the Caps lead in every offensive stat, 8-5 in shots on goal, plus the really important one that they show on the scoreboard.

2nd period

Puck is dropped.

Aliaksei Protas was a fraction of an inch from a goal.

Caps keep pushing, with Ovi close to scoring.

🦓

Penalty kill

Ethan Frank – 2 minutes for high sticking

Killed.

Hutson and Roy team up for a nice scoring chance, but no dice.

Hutson (Cole) and Hughes (Jack) are really getting into it.

Feels like the Caps are threatening every shift, especially Cole Hutson. Nothing hits net though.

🦓

Penalty kill

Tom Wilson – 2 minutes for hooking

Devils hit the crossbar. Logan Thompson thanks the crossbar for its service.

At intermission: The Caps lead shots (on goal) 16 to 11 and are controlling play well overall, but the Devils will enter the third period with a bit more PP time.

3rd period

Puck is down.

Caps kill the penalty.

Devils appear to be running J Hughes – Nico Hischier – Timo Meier on a line together.

Thompson makes a lightning-fast save to stop Mercer from tying the game.

Comment below. Refresh for live updates during the game. The thread will be closed shortly after the game is completed.