Washington @ New Jersey preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 16, 2020 ) New Jersey 2, Washington 5

While superstar captain Alex Ovechkin has a chance to reach a major milestone and join some lofty company, the Washington Capitals will be more focused on ended a season high-tying three-game slide when they visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon. Ovechkin is one shy of becoming the eighth player in league history to score 700 goals.

Ovechkin halted a five-game point drought with goal No. 699 in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to Montreal -- the fifth defeat in six games for the sputtering Capitals. "There's no panic," forward Tom Wilson said of Washington, which is tied with Pittsburgh atop the Metropolitan Division. "We have 20 games left here and we are addressing it now and we want it to be over with." Ovechkin has 29 goals and 63 points in 56 games versus New Jersey, which has won five of eight overall and three in a row at home. "Anytime you play them, he's a guy you have to keep an eye on," Devils interim coach Alain Nasreddine said of Ovechkin. "He wants to get 700 and we don't want it to happen against us."

TIME: 1 p.m. ET. TV: NHL Network, NBCS Washington, MSG-Plus

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (37-17-6): Coach Todd Reirden experimented with his lineup at Friday's practice, swapping his top two centers by elevating Evgeny Kuznetsov to the top line between Ovechkin and Wilson while Nicklas Backstrom was paired with T.J. Oshie and Jakub Vrana. Kuznetsov returned from a three-game injury absence Thursday and collected an assist on Wilson's tying goal with 20 seconds remaining in regulation. Rookie Ilya Samsonov, who allowed nine goals in losing his last two starts, will get the nod Saturday on his 23rd birthday.

ABOUT THE DEVILS (23-27-10): Mackenzie Blackwood continues to stand tall for New Jersey, turning aside 36 of 37 shots in Thursday's 2-1 victory over San Jose to run his winning streak to five starts. Blackwood has allowed five goals during the five-game run to give him 20 wins on the season and 30 career in 65 appearances. "If you said in a year you'll have 30 career wins, I mean I would be ecstatic," Blackwood said. "It's been a process, coming to the rink every day working on your game, trying to get better. It's been good so far."

OVERTIME

1. Backstrom, who collected two assists Thursday, has two goals and seven points in three matchups versus New Jersey this season.

2. Devils D Will Butcher and Sami Vatanen both did not practice Friday.

3. Oshie has five goals in his last six games overall but has been held off the scoresheet versus the Devils this season.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Devils 2