Event of the Day: Washington Capitals versus New Jersey Devils
Our event of the day is the NHL fixture between the Washington Capitals and the New Jersey Devils at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. The game sees the high-flying Capitals, boasting a six-game win streak, host the struggling Devils, who are yet to win ten games this season. With the Capitals looking to continue their winning ways, and the Devils looking to regain control of their season, be sure you don't miss this match. This game sees two very different teams face off at the Capital One Arena. The Washington Capitals, looking to repeat their championship success from last season, have enjoyed a strong start to the season. Through the first 24 games of the season, they have recorded 14 wins as they jockey for position at the top of the Metropolitan Division with an equally successful Columbus Blue Jacket team.
Team captain Alex Ovechkin has once again led by example, leading the team in scoring with 18 goals, double that of the next best scorer, T.J. Oshie. The Capitals haven’t lost in a fortnight, winning six consecutive games after a 4-1 loss to the Arizona Coyotes on November 11th. Evidently having avoided any sort of championship fatigue, the Capitals have proven their ability to succeed in a particularly competitive Eastern Conference. The Devils, on the other hand, are far from a success this season. After starting the season 4-0, they slumped and have been fighting to stay around .500 ever since. The biggest problem for the Devils has been goaltending with the starting goalies, Cory Schneider and Keith Kincaid, allowing an average of 3.5 goals per game. The veteran Schneider has been particularly disappointing, having five losses and no wins with a personal goals allowed per game average of 4.28. However, as mismatched as these teams seem, a Capitals victory is not a sure thing. The teams have met once already this season. The Devils hosted the Capitals at the Prudential Center on October 12th. The Devils thoroughly beat their division rivals 6-0. However, those were very different teams, the roles essentially reversed from what they are, coming into today’s matchup. With the Capitals looking to extend their win streak, and the Devils hoping to regain control of their season, it is sure to be an exciting match tonight.
Honourable mentions around the globe go to the NBA, where the Portland Trailblazers host the Denver Nuggets at the Moda Center. Both teams are enjoying successful seasons in an incredibly tight Western Conference. The Nuggets sit in 3rd at 14-7, only half a game back from the Clippers and Warriors. The Trail Blazers are 5th, with a 13-8 record and one-and-a-half games back from first place. For the Trail Blazers, veteran Damian Lillard has continued his strong form from last season to help lead the team on their current path of success. With everything to play for, expect a hard-fought match in Portland. Elsewhere, in Pro14 Rugby, Ospreys host Zebre at the Liberty Stadium. On the PGA Tour, play continues at the Hero World Challenge at Albany in The Bahamas. In the Men’s Hockey World Cup, England face China in their opening match of the tournament at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India. In NCAA Football, the Pac-12 Championship Game takes place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. 10th ranked Washington face 17th ranked Utah for the title of Pac-12 Champion.
Whatever you’re watching, enjoy!
Photos by NHL