Washington's lineup shows how much this team has changed. Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou flank Dylan Strome on the top line. Tom Wilson rides with Dubois and Aliaksei Protas. Alex Ovechkin was projected on the third line with Justin Sourdif and Anthony Beauvillier. That's real depth on paper, but in the third period Thursday it produced nothing. The Caps were also 2-3 in their last 5 coming into this one, and that stretch included back-to-back home losses to Minnesota and Dallas in which they allowed 11 goals combined.
New Jersey's run has been built on offense more than structure. The Devils beat St. Louis 5-4 and the Islanders 5-4, shut out Toronto 4-0, lost 4-2 in Winnipeg and then beat the Caps. The 2 one-goal wins show this team can win a track meet. That kind of game is risky for a defense this thin on the road, and Washington's power play already scored once against them Thursday.
Washington has its own holes on the back end. Rasmus Sandin and Vincent Desharnais are both on IR, and Patrick Thomas is out at center. The Capitals do get last change at Capital One Arena, though. That lets Washington pick its matchups against whatever third pair New Jersey has to use, and Thursday showed that's the soft spot in the Devils' lineup right now. Puck drop is 7:00 PM ET Saturday.
The Devils have the better form, the hotter goalie and the momentum from Thursday. The Capitals have home ice, a deep forward group and an opponent missing 3 regular defensemen. If Pesce comes back, New Jersey's blue line looks a lot more normal. If he doesn't, Washington's chance to split the home-and-home is a lot better.
