Snapshots of the Week Ahead: Week 9

Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty ImagesAs Week 9 begins on the Washington Capitals’ schedule, they find themselves looking up at a team in the standings. After splitting two games with the Boston Bruins to end last week, the New York Islanders squeezed ahead of both teams and now lead the Caps by two points going into the new week. The Caps will not face the Isles in Week 9, but there will be a certain familiarity aspect of the week that will dominate.

The Opponents

New Jersey Devils (Tuesday/7:00pm)

When the Caps host the Devils on Tuesday night, it will be the fourth time in a span of nine games that the teams faced one another. The Caps won the first three of those meetings,…