[7:00 PM] Capitals @ Lightning

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Capitals (13-7-2)

@ Tampa Bay Lightning (13-11-1)

 

Starting Goalies:

Braden Holtby (WSH): Unconfirmed

Ben Bishop (TB): Confirmed

 

• Washington stands fourth in the competitive Metropolitan Division, just two points up on sixth-place New Jersey, after managing only a pair of goals in two straight losses. Captain Alex Ovechkin owns five of his team-leading 12 tallies in the last seven games for the Capitals and hopes he can find the magic that has allowed him to post 40 goals and 81 points in 60 career games against Tampa Bay.

• The Lightning, who won their first two contests after captain Steven Stamkos was lost for four months with a knee injury, dropped five of six since after Thursday’s 5-4 loss at St. Louis – a game in which they showed some spark.

• Washington’s top three scorers are on the same line with Nicklas Backstrom (20 points) centering Ovechkin (18) and Marcus Johansson (15) while only one other active player has double-digit points. Forward Jakub Vrana made his career debut in the 3-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Thursday, skating with the struggling Evgeny Kuznetsov and Andre Burakovsky (10 points). The Capitals need more from veteran wing Justin Williams, who has four points on the season after posting 52 in 2015-16.

• The newly constructed line of Cedric Paquette centering Joel Vermin and Jonathan Drouin was Tampa Bay’s best on Thursday, registering six points combined. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and an assist against St. Louis to push his team-leading total to 28 points and after Stamkos’ 20 in 19 games, defenseman Victor Hedman is next with 18. Defenseman Jason Garrison played only one shift in the third period Thursday after blocking a shot in the second session and his status is uncertain for Saturday.

• The Capitals won five straight against Tampa Bay, recording 20 goals and allowing 11 in the streak.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: Washington Capitals

Confidence: 4/10

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