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Capitals host injury-stricken Devils

Oct 18, 2008 - 10:09 AM New Jersey (3-1-0) at Washington (3-1-0), 7:00 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Even before Brian Rolston went down with an injury, New Jersey Devils coach Brent Sutter intended on making changes to boost a slumping offense.

The Devils will try to snap out of a scoring slumber without Rolston when they face off against the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

Rolston, who scored his first goal of the season in Thursday's 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers, suffered a high right ankle sprain in the third period, when he crashed into the end boards. However, Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Rolston underwent an X-ray in Atlanta and it was negative, meaning there is no fracture.

With Rolston sidelined for an indefinite period, rookie Petr Vrana likely will make his NHL debut for New Jersey, which has scored just six goals in four games. In addition, Sutter is expected to juggle his lines, keeping only the trio of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and captain Jamie Langenbrunner intact.

Martin Brodeur seeks his 542nd career win, which would put him within nine of tying Hall of Famer Patrick Roy's all-time record. The 36-year-old Brodeur registered his 97th career shutout against the Thrashers, six short of Terry Sawchuk's all-time mark.

The Capitals, who have scored at least four goals in each of their four games this season, are coming off a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. Alexander Semin, who had a goal and an assist in the contest, has four tallies and eight points on the campaign.

Starting netminder Jose Theodore likely will sit in favor of Brent Johnson in this one for Washington, which has won three in a row. Johnson is 1-1-0 with a 2.66 goals-against average in two games this season.