The Devils are in Washington tonight to play a Capitals team that continued its fire sale yesterday. And the next part of the purge may include the Devs.

Sources yesterday said the Devils are negotiating a deal with Washington that would bring defenseman Sergei Gonchar to New Jersey. The 29-year-old has 44 points in 51 games this season despite missing three weeks around the All-Star break with a shoulder injury.

Yesterday, the Caps dealt 14-year vet Peter Bondra to Ottawa for a prospect and a second-round draft pick. Bondra joins Jaromir Jagr and Steve Konowalchuk as Washington price-cutting casualties.

After a disappointing 4-4 tie with the Wild Tuesday night, the Devils are looking to improve on their sixth place spot in the Eastern Conference. The Devils, who are 1-0-1-1 against Washington this season, are three points behind Boston for fifth place and eight points ahead of Montreal and the Islanders.