The Washington Capitals are changing their lineup again for Devils Vs Capitals on Saturday afternoon at Capital One Arena. Jonny Brodzinski was recalled from the AHL's Hershey Bears and is set to go in down the middle, while Pierre-Luc Dubois, Matt Roy and Justin Sourdif will miss the game.
That matters because this is the first of four intra-division games between the teams this season, and both clubs come in at 4-3-0. The Devils have won their last two games and scored 12 goals in those wins, including a 7-1 rout of the New York Rangers on Thursday, while Jack Hughes has nine points in seven games.
Spencer Carbery spent Friday highlighting what makes New Jersey dangerous, calling it one of the league's best rush and speed attacks and pointing to its ability to turn offensive-zone time into repeated pressure. For Washington, the immediate task is to absorb that pace with a center who was with Hershey Bears until the recall and a roster that is still missing key regulars.
There is still a wrinkle inside the injury picture. Dubois and Roy skated together at MedStar Capitals Iceplex before puck drop, which suggests they are getting closer, but only one of them was available in any practical sense for Saturday. Dubois has been out since October 9 against the New York Rangers, Roy since October 3 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Dubois was placed on injured reserve to make room for Brodzinski on the 23-man active roster.
Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will have the call on Monumental Sports Network when puck drop arrives at 1 pm. The question now is not whether the Capitals can patch the lineup for one afternoon, but how long they will have to keep doing it before the players skating on the side can actually rejoin it.
