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Streaking Capitals host struggling Devils

Nov 14, 2008 - 11:30 AM 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.