Washington's 4-3-0 start has held up despite a crowded injury list. Pierre-Luc Dubois has been out with an illness and hadn't resumed skating as of Wednesday, after opening the year with 4 points in 4 games. Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin are both out on the blue line, and Justin Holl was called up to cover. Alex Tuch has stepped up. He missed practice before the Carolina game, traveled anyway, and then scored twice against Montreal, including the 3rd-period goal that put it away.
The two clubs got to similar records very differently. Over the last 5, Washington has scored 18 and allowed 16, winning games by outscoring people even when it wasn't in control. In our recap of the Montreal game, the Capitals were outshot 23-18 through 2 periods and were tied 3-3 heading into the 3rd. New Jersey's last 5 come out to 13 scored and 20 allowed, but the 0-6 night on Long Island accounts for a big chunk of that. Without it, the Devils have been a team that controls play and has trouble finishing. The Detroit game showed both sides: they kept the puck in the offensive zone for long stretches, then gave up 4 goals on not many shots.
The injuries matter on both sides. New Jersey has thinned out at forward, with Connor Brown on IR, Nick Bjugstad on long-term IR with a pectoral injury and Luke Evangelista day-to-day. That puts more on Hughes, Bratt and Nico Hischier to keep driving the offense. Seamus Casey's knee procedure keeps him out 6-8 weeks, which cuts into the Devils' puck-moving on the back end. Washington is missing 2 regular defensemen, which is the opening for a Devils team that piles up shots. Whether Dubois is ready by Saturday is the biggest open question about the Capitals' lineup.
The board isn't open yet, and it won't be until Thursday's game is in the books. What's already set is that the rested team is at home, and the team that has to win its first game of the week to look like a contender is coming in on 1 day of rest. Hughes has played like a star, but the Devils' defense has to prove itself after the 6-0 and 5-3 losses. The Capitals have been winning without being at full strength, and if Dubois is back on Saturday they'll have more depth up front than they've had all week.