The Capitals wrap up their regular season against the rival Penguins. (Charles LeClaire — Imagn Images)The Washington Capitals have one last game on the schedule before kicking off the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs next week, and it's a rivalry showdown with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Here's everything to know before puck drop at 7 p.m. ET at PPG Paints Arena.
Washington Capitals Line Combinations
Washington will rest defensemen John Carlson, Martin Fehervary and Matt Roy for the final game of the year. Alex Ovechkin will play, leading the charge and forgoing a game off before the playoffs.
Clay Stevenson will make his NHL debut and start between the pipes with Logan Thompson still injured. Charlie Lindgren will back up.
Here are the projected combinations.
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Anthony Beauvillier
Connor McMichael-Pierre-Luc Dubois-Tom Wilson
Andrew Mangiapane-Lars Eller-Ryan Leonard
Brandon Duhaime-Nic Dowd-Taylor Raddysh
Ethen Frank
Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Jakob Chychrun-Dylan McIlrath
Alex Alexeyev
Clay Stevenson
Charlie Lindgren
Washington Capitals Stats
- Alex Ovechkin has points in eight straight games.
- Dylan Strome, coming off his first hat trick with the Capitals, has points in eight of his last nine games.
- Tom Wilson has points in three of his last five games.
Washington Capitals Storylines
- Keep an eye on Anthony Beauvillier, who has proven to be a key addition to the top line with Strome and Ovechkin.
- Also look out for Rasmus Sandin, who is coming off one of his best games of the year and impressed while quarterbacking the power play and providing some offense to boot.