Everything to know about the Capitals vs. Devils game

After three full days off, Washington gets right back to work Saturday at Prudential Center. It is the first of two road games against New Jersey, and the Caps come in at 19-13-5.

The reset matters because the calendar turns nasty fast, with 22 games packed into 41 nights. Spencer Carbery basically called it «go time,» and you can hear the urgency in that.

Washington limped into the break at 1-4-2 over its last seven, and the final taste was brutal. Tuesday against the Rangers, the Caps coughed up a 3-2 lead after two and ate five third period goals in a 7-3 loss.

Connor McMichael nailed the vibe afterward, saying the group «took our foot off the gas» when momentum swung. That cannot happen again against a Devils team that can score in bunches.

This matchup has history already, because New Jersey beat Washington 3-2 in overtime in mid-November. The Devils are 20-16-1 now, and they recently got center Jack Hughes back after an 18 game absence.

Caps fans have heard the reset talk before, but this one feels different because the opponent sits right behind them. If Washington wants cleaner wins, it starts with managing the first risky pass out of the zone.

New Jersey wants speed through the middle, especially when Hughes is rolling, so Washington's defense has to hold the blue line with support. When the Caps keep their gaps tight, they can force dump-ins and get out quickly.

Offensively, the better look is simple, win entries, get pucks to the net, and hunt rebounds in the low slot. A road game like this usually comes down to who owns the hard areas after the first wave.

Saturday also kicks off a stretch that includes Monday in Florida, then a Wednesday rematch with the Rangers, and Thursday in Ottawa. Bank points now, and the whole January story can change in a hurry.