The New Jersey Devils will travel to Capital One Arena to take on the Washington Capitals in an exciting NHL Regular Season game. Scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2026, at 7:00 PM, this encounter will be broadcasted on ESPN+. The Devils, led by head coach Sheldon Keefe, currently hold a record of 35-31-2.
On the other side, the Capitals, coached by Spencer Carbery, are sitting at a record of 34-27-8. Both teams are part of the Eastern Metropolitan Division, with the Devils ranked 7th and the Capitals in 6th place. As they meet again, the Capitals are considered the favorites with a moneyline of -131, while the Devils are the underdogs at +111.
Recent performances show the Devils coming off a strong 6-3 victory against the New York Rangers, highlighting key contributions from Jack Hughes and Connor Brown. Meanwhile, the Capitals secured a 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators, with standout performances from Tom Wilson and Alex Ovechkin. With both teams looking to improve their standings, fans can anticipate a competitive contest.
Capitals vs Devils At a Glance
- Game Date & Time: Friday, March 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM
- Venue: Capital One Arena
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Records: Devils 35-31-2, Capitals 34-27-8
- Game Odds: Capitals favored with a MoneyLine of -131
- Division Standings: Devils rank 7th, Capitals rank 6th in Eastern Metropolitan
Capital Gains: Washington Capitals Prepare for the Upcoming Game
Offensive Output and Key Contributors
The away team enters this game with a solid offensive record, having scored 215 goals this season, ranking them 11th overall. Their performance is supported by a commendable 360 assists, placing them 14th in the league. This suggests a team that can move the puck well and create opportunities for scoring.
One area where they excel is in getting the puck on net, with 1982 shots on goal ranking them 7th. This indicates their ability to maintain offensive pressure. Their power play, however, has room for improvement, with only 34 power play goals putting them at 17th place.
Defensive Contributions and Physicality
On the defensive side, the team showcases their strength with 1105 blocks, securing the 3rd rank in the league. This demonstrates their ability to protect the net effectively. With 1378 hits, they rank 16th, suggesting they can play a physical game when necessary.
The team has struggled somewhat in giveaways and takeaways, both ranked 11th, which highlights an area for potential improvement. Their faceoffs have been a challenging aspect, with more faceoffs lost than won, ranked 20th in the league.
Goaltending Performance
In terms of goaltending, the team has been quite effective, with only 183 goals against, ranking them 5th. This is indicative of strong defensive support and goaltending prowess. The team’s goaltenders have made 1747 saves, further emphasizing their defensive strength.
However, the lack of shutouts is notable, with none recorded this season. This might indicate occasional lapses in their otherwise solid defensive setup.
Betting Trends
- Straight Up (SU) Last 3: 2-1 (66.7%)
- Straight Up (SU) Last 5: 3-2 (60.0%)
- Straight Up (SU) Last 10: 6-4 (60.0%)
- Puckline (ATS) Last 3: 2-1 (66.7%)
- Puckline (ATS) Last 5: 3-2 (60.0%)
- Puckline (ATS) Last 10: 5-5 (50.0%)
- Totals (O/U) Last 3: 0-3 (0.0%)
- Totals (O/U) Last 5: 1-4 (20.0%)
- Totals (O/U) Last 10: 2-8 (20.0%)
Devilish Challenge Awaits: New Jersey Devils Set to Take On the Capitals
Season Overview
The New Jersey Devils have displayed offensive strength in the 2026 season, ranking 6th in shots on goal with 2041. Despite their high shot output, their conversion has been less impressive, scoring 182 goals for a 21st place in the league. They will look to improve their scoring efficiency as they face the Capitals.
Defensively, the Devils have conceded 196 goals, placing them 12th in the league. They have been relatively strong in shot-blocking, ranking 20th with 941 blocks, an aspect they hope to capitalize on against Washington’s offensive threats.
Key Players to Watch
Jack Hughes has been a standout for the Devils with 54 points in 47 games, showing his playmaking ability with 36 assists. Nico Hischier has also been effective with 52 points, offering a scoring touch with 24 goals. These two players will be pivotal in generating offensive momentum against the Capitals.
On the defensive side, Dougie Hamilton’s contributions have been vital with his ability to block shots and assist in goals. Additionally, Timo Meier brings physicality to the Devils’ lineup, leading the team with 111 hits and contributing offensively with 34 points.
Goaltending Insights
Jacob Markstrom has been the mainstay between the pipes, registering 887 saves across 39 appearances. His consistent performance will be crucial in neutralizing the Capitals’ offensive plays. Backup Jake Allen has also contributed with 750 saves in 30 games, providing depth in the goaltending department.
As the Devils face the Capitals, the goaltending duo will need to be at their best to withstand the barrage of shots expected from Washington’s potent offense.
Betting Trends
- SU Last 3: 2-1 (66.7%)
- SU Last 5: 3-2 (60.0%)
- SU Last 10: 5-5 (50.0%)
- SU All Games: 23-31 (42.6%)
- SU as Favorite: 12-16 (42.9%)
- SU as Underdog: 11-15 (42.3%)
- Puckline Last 3: 2-1 (66.7%)
- Puckline Last 5: 3-2 (60.0%)
- Puckline Last 10: 5-5 (50.0%)
- Puckline All Games: 22-32 (40.7%)
- Puckline as Favorite: 9-19 (32.1%)
- Puckline as Underdog: 13-13 (50.0%)
- O/U Last 3: 3-0 (100.0%)
- O/U Last 5: 4-1 (80.0%)
- O/U Last 10: 5-5 (50.0%)
- O/U All Games: 23-31 (42.6%)
Capitals vs Devils Prediction: Washington Capitals -131
The Washington Capitals are slightly favored in this matchup with odds of -131. Their record at home has been relatively strong, and their division record of 12-7 shows their ability to perform well against familiar opponents. The Capitals’ last head-to-head matchup against the Devils this season ended in a win, giving them a psychological edge heading into this game.
New Jersey Devils come into this game with a moneyline of +111, indicating they are the underdogs. Their current division standing of 7th and a division record of 6-14 suggest that they struggle against Eastern Metropolitan opponents. With only one shutout win this season, their defensive vulnerabilities could be exploited by the Capitals’ offensive strategies.
The Devils have had trouble finding consistency, especially against teams in their conference, with a 16-23 conference record. This inconsistency, paired with their poor division record, makes it challenging to confidently back them in this matchup. On the other hand, the Capitals have performed well as favorites, further solidifying the choice to back them in this game.
Given the Capitals’ recent form and head-to-head success against the Devils, I predict they will secure another victory at home. The projected final score is Washington Capitals 4 – New Jersey Devils 2, which aligns with the Capitals’ advantage in both defense and offense in recent games.
- Capitals vs Devils Prediction: Washington Capitals -131
- Capitals vs Devils Score: Washington Capitals 4 – New Jersey Devils 2
