New Jersey Devils Notes
The Devils are set to play their first game on a Monday for the 2022-23 season, while riding a three-game winning streak.
It marks the first time since Dec. 29, 2021, to Jan. 2, 2022, that Jersey’s team entailed a winning streak of at least three games.
The last time that the Devils earned a four-game winning streak was the start of the 2018-19 season via Oct. 6, 2018, to Oct. 16, 2018.
Entering Saturday’s contest vs San Jose on Oct. 22, the team’s 160 total shots on goal were the most in franchise history after New Jersey’s first four games to start a season.
148 shots are the second most, which was earned in the first four games in 1993-94, while 142 shots via 1984-85 ranks as the third most for this matter.
As of Oct. 23, the Devils rank 1st in the NHL with 21.2 shots against, per game. Toronto ranked second at 25.8 shots against, per game.
Since 1994-95, the franchise’s first Stanley Cup championship, the Devils have finished a season averaging under 25 shots against, per game seven times.
The team clinched a playoff berth in six of those seasons, while winning a Stanley Cup championship in 2002-03, plus advancing to the Stanley Cup final in 2000-01. The team didn’t clinch a playoff berth in the shortened (lockout year) in 2012-13.
The Devils have allowed 106 shots in the team’s first five games to start a season, which marks the lowest number of shots against in franchise history in the team’s first five games to start a season.
New Jersey’s shots per game total entering tonight’s contest vs Washington is 39.2. As of Oct. 23, that ranks second in the NHL behind Pittsburgh, 39.8.
Since 1994-95, the team’s highest shots per game total is 33.1, which was earned in 1999-00. The team then won its second Stanley Cup championship.
The Devils officially announced and revealed their second-ever Adidas Reverse Retro sweater on Thursday, which turns back the clock and nods to the franchise’s Colorado roots.
Side note…On Oct. 12, 2022, Andy Greene officially signed a one-day contract and retired as a Devil. The Trenton, Michigan native’s 923 regular-season games played ranks seventh all-time in franchise history, and third all-time for defensemen in franchise history.
The Devils record on Mondays in 2021-22…2-2-1…home: 1-0-1
Record in night games in 2022-23…2-2-0…home…2-1-0
Record vs Metropolitan Division in 2022-23….1-1-0….home…0-0-0
2022-23 Alternate jersey record…1-0-0
VS WASHINGTON
The Devils and Nation’s Capital face-off four times this season while tonight’s contest marks the first matchup between the divisional this season.
Game 2: Nov. 26, 7:00 P.M., The Rock
Game 3: Mar. 9, 7:00 P.M., at WSH
Game 4: Season Finale, Apr. 13, 7:00 P.M., at WSH
The last time the Devils won a season series vs Washington was 2013-14, after the Devils posted a 3-1-0 record vs the Caps.
The last time New Jersey won a home game vs the Caps was 2019-20, after a 3-2 win on Feb. 22.
ALL-TIME vs WASHINGTON
Record: 93-117-13-6
Home: 54-48-7-4
Road: 39-69-6-2
DID YOU KNOW…
The most goals in franchise history earned in a single game vs the Capitals was in a 8-1 win vs Washington on Oct. 28, 1977 (COL).
The most goals that the Devils allowed in a single game vs the Caps is nine, four times, with the last being on Jan. 16, 1990, in a 9-6 loss at Washington.
The most shots that Jersey earned in a single game vs the Capitals is 47, after a 6-5 win on Jan. 20, 1989, at Washington.
The most shots that the Devils/Rockies allowed in a single game vs Washington is 51, on Nov. 18, 1981, at Washington, in a 7-1 defeat.
The last time the Devils shut out the Caps was Oct. 11, 2018, in a 6-0 win at the Rock.
The last time Washington shut out the Devils was Mar. 26, 2021, in a 4-0 loss at Washington.
Washington Capitals Notes:
LAST GAME
Washington 4, Los Angeles Kings 3
October 22, 2022 Capital One Arena Washington, D.C.
Shots: WSH: 32; LAK: 26
Power Plays: WSH: 0/3; LAK: 0/1
Three Stars: 1. Johansson (WSH), 2. Orlov (WSH), 3. Arvidsson (LAK)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Recalled forward Beck Malenstyn from AHL Hershey, 10/19
Loaned forward Sonny Milano to AHL Hershey, 10/17
Signed forward Sonny Milano to a one-year contract, 10/16
INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 10/12-10/22 (6 games)
Carl Hagelin: 10/12-10/22 (6 games)
Tom Wilson: 10/12-10/22 (6 games)
Connor Brown: 10/20/22-10/22/22 (2 games)
Man Games Lost: 20
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals visit the New Jersey Devils on Monday at Prudential Center for the first of four meetings between the teams this season. Washington is 123-77-13-16 all-time vs. New Jersey and 25-3-3 in their last 31 games against the Devils dating back to the 2015-16 season. In addition, the Capitals have won five-straight games at New Jersey and have a record of 12-2-1 in their last 15 games at Prudential Center. In 2021-22, Washington won the season series with New Jersey 2-0-1.
TOP CAPS FACTS
Comeback Caps
- The Capitals overcame a two-goal third-period deficit to win in regulation on Saturday for the second time this season (also Oct. 17 vs. Vancouver), rallying to beat the Los Angeles Kings 4-3 at Capital One Arena.
- With the comeback win, Washington became the fifth team in NHL history to record two third-period, multi-goal comeback victories within their first six games in a season, joining the 2020-21 Wild, 2016-17 Jets, 1988-89 Red Wings and 1986-87 Penguins (from NHL Stats).
- The Capitals scored four goals in the third period vs. the Kings, their second four-goal third period of the season (also Oct. 17 vs. Vancouver).
Bounce Back
- Since the start of the 2020-21 season, Washington is 26-14-3 in games following a regulation loss and 7-3-0 in games following two consecutive regulation losses.
- From April 9, 2021 to Jan. 26, 2022, the Capitals went 60-straight games without suffering consecutive regulation losses, the third-longest such streak in franchise history.
- The Capitals have a record of 83-44-17 (183 points) since 2020-21, good for the 10th-most points in the NHL in that span.
Offense From Orly
- Defenseman Dmitry Orlov assisted on Washington’s final three goals on Saturday, including recording the primary assist on Marcus Johansson’s game winner, marking his third career three-assist game.
- Through six games, Orlov has recorded four assists and averaged 21:14 of ice time, ranking second on the team in both categories.
- Orlov leads the Capitals in ice time at five-on-five (113:33) and ranks tied for second in primary assists (2).
- Orlov, who played in his 649th career game with Washington on Saturday, is six games shy of passing Sergei Gonchar (654) for the fifth-most games played by a defenseman in franchise history.
- Orlov has played in 530 of Washington’s 541 regular season games since 2015-16, the most on the team in that span.
Did You Know?
- The Capitals have scored 14 goals at five-on-five this season, which is tied for the fourth most in the NHL, through games played Oct. 22.
- Over their last four games, the Capitals have converted on five out of 12 power play opportunities (41.7 percent).
- The Capitals are averaging 33.33 hits per game and their 200 hits rank second in the NHL, through games played Oct. 22.
- Fifteen of the 20 skaters the Capitals have dressed this season have recorded at least one point.
