New Jersey (7-6-2) at Washington (9-4-2) 7:00 p.m. EST
WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Devils have had trouble
scoring goals since they lost goaltender Martin Brodeur, and it
doesn't figure to get any easier against the Washington Capitals
on Friday.
Washington, which leads the Southeast Division by two points
over Carolina, has boasted a stingy defense over its current
four-game winning streak. The Capitals have allowed just six
goals during the run while finding the net 15 times.
Alex Ovechkin had a goal and two assists and Alexander Semin
continued his torrid pace, figuring in all five tallies with two
goals and three assists as the Capitals beat the Hurricanes,
5-1, on Wednesday.
Semin leads the NHL with 27 points while Ovechkin has heated up
of late, collecting eight points in his last four games after
totaling just three over his previous seven.
New Jersey has lost three in a row and four of five since
Brodeur tore a tendon in his left bicep against the Atlanta
Thrashers on November 1, an injury that will keep the All-Star
netminder out at least three months.
While Kevin Weekes has been serviceable in net, posting a 3.06
goals against average and .898 save percentage, the Devils have
not provided him much offensive support.
Outside of a 4-3, shootout victory over Tampa Bay last
Wednesday, New Jersey has managed just three goals in Weekes'
other three starts, all losses.
Weekes had not allowed more than three goals until he was pulled
after surrendering four goals in the second period of New
Jersey's 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Wednesday.