Getty New Jersey goalie Mackenzie Blackwood looks to help the Devils in its ongoing rebuild.
The New Jersey Devils will make its NHL preseason debut against a Washington Capitals team (0-1) with one game under its belt already.
In the United States, the game (7 p.m. ET start time) will be televised on MSG+ (in local markets; Devils broadcast), NBC Sports Washington (in local markets; Capitals broadcast) and NHL Network (nationally).
But if you don’t have cable, here are some different ways you can watch a live stream of the Devils vs Capitals online:
Note: Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of MSG+ (local markets), NBC Sports Washington (local markets), NHL Network and 100-plus other live TV channels on FuboTV. You’ll need the Sports Plus add-on for the NHL Network, but you can include the main channel package and any add-ons with your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch the Devils vs Capitals live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the FuboTV website.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV also comes with 250 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch most games on-demand within three days of their conclusion, even if you don’t record them.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream (formerly AT&T TV) has four different channel packages: “Entertainment,” “Choice,” “Ultimate” and “Premier.” MSG+ (local markets) and NBC Sports Washington (local markets) are included in “Choice” and up, while NHL Network is in “Ultimate” and up, but you can pick any package and any add-on you want with your free 14-day trial.
Note that the free trial isn’t advertised as such, but your “due today” amount will be $0 when signing up. If you watch on your computer, phone or tablet, you won’t be charged for 14 days. If you watch on a streaming device on your TV (Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, etc.), you will be charged for the first month, but you can get still get a full refund if you cancel before 14 days:
Once signed up for DirecTV Stream, you can watch the Devils vs Capitals live on the DirecTV Stream app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Samsung TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the DirecTV Stream website.
If you can’t watch live, DirecTV Stream also comes with 20 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to 500 hours).
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of NHL Network and 45-plus other live TV channels via Sling TV’s “Sling Orange + Sports Extra” bundle or “Sling Blue + Sports Extra” bundle. This option doesn’t include a free trial, but it’s the cheapest long-term streaming service with NHL Network, and you can get your first month for just $21:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch the Devils vs Capitals live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV or Fire Stick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One or Series X/S, Samsung TV, LG TV, any device with Android TV (such as a Sony TV or Nvidia Shield), airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad or Android tablet. Or you can watch on your computer via the Sling TV website.
If you can’t watch live, Sling TV comes included with 50 hours of cloud DVR.
Devils vs Capitals Preview
Washington will continue evaluating its young offensive talent in the absence of star center Niklas Backstrom.
The 15th-year veteran hasn’t practiced in training camp due to recovery from a hip injury that happened last season according to WashingtonCaps.com’s Mike Vogel. Washington has Backstrom listed as week-to-week ahead of the Oct. 13 season opener, Vogel noted.
Recent Capitals draft picks Connor McMichael and Hendrix Lapierre, who both played in the preseason opener, will likely get ice time against New Jersey, Vogel reported. McMichael won 53% of his faceoffs in the opener against the Boston Bruins. Lapierre made only 18% of his faceoffs.
New Jersey will get its first look at defenseman Dougie Hamilton, previously a member of the Carolina Hurricanes. The veteran signed with the team in July, and he hopes to boost the team’s power play according to NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale.
“He gives us a big-time defenseman. He’s top five in the League and for us to have him, that could take us to another step,” Devils center Jack Hughes said per Morreale.
For the Devils, it’s been rebuild mode for a while with a three-year absence from the Stanley Cup playoffs. New Jersey has one playoff appearance since 2012 when the team lost in the Stanley Cup finals.
Developing younger players such as Hughes, 20, will be key according to Morreale. The Devils have numerous key players under the age of 24 per Morreale — Nico Hischier, Michael, McLeod, Nolan Foote, Janne Kuokkanen, Yegor Sharangovich, Ty Smith, and Jesper Boqvist.
New Jersey also has a talented prospect in forward Alexander Holtz, 19, whom the Devils picked No. 7 in the 2020 draft, Morreale reported. Holtz played in the Swedish Hockey League last season where he posted 18 points in 40 games per Morreale.
Lapierre, likewise is 19, and is looking to make a splash with the Capitals in the preseason. The Capitals drafted him at No. 22 in 2020, but he played another year of junior hockey in Canada.
“My goal is to get a spot in the National Hockey League,” Lapierre said per Vogel. “I know it’s a tough job. I’m only 19, but if I have to go back to juniors, it will be that. If I can play in the National Hockey League it will be that, so I’ll be ready for whatever situation. My job as a hockey player is to be ready each and every night and to show the coaching staff and everyone here what I’m made of. Right now, that’s my goal and we’ll see what happens.”