Here's everything to know as the Capitals take on the Predators in the first game of a weekend back-to-back.
The Washington Capitals felt they played well enough to win on Thursday, but a couple of mistakes proved costly in a 4-3 shootout loss. Still, they kept their point streak alive, and the task at hand is to add to it against the red-hot Nashville Predators.
Here's everything to know before puck drop at 8 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena.
Washington Capitals Lines & Injury Report
The Capitals will be getting a key name back in the mix for Saturday, as Evgeny Kuznetsov will draw back in after missing last game due to illness.
Still, the team will remain without Sonny Milano as he recovers from an upper-body injury. Call-up Joe Snively will continue to take his place on the third line. Matthew Phillips, who dressed as the third center for Kuznetsov but skated just 2:44 minutes against Philly, will be the healthy scratch up front.
Here are the line combinations for Saturday’s tilt:
Alex Ovechkin-Dylan Strome-Tom Wilson
Aliaksei Protas-Connor McMichael-Anthony Mantha
Joe Snively-Evgeny Kuznetsov-T.J. Oshie
Beck Malenstyn-Nic Dowd-Nicolas Aube-Kubel
Martin Fehervary-John Carlson
Rasmus Sandin-Trevor van Riemsdyk
Joel Edmundson-Nick Jensen
Charlie Lindgren will get the start again, with Darcy Kuemper taking Sunday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Beyond Milano, Max Pacioretty and Nicklas Backstrom are the only other injuries up front. Pacioretty is on the road trip and skating but is still 2-3 weeks away from returning to the lineup as he recovers from a re-torn Achilles. Backstrom remains on an indefinite leave of absence, with his hip not responding to resurfacing surgery in June 2022.
Washington Capitals Storylines & Keys To The Game
Washington is starting to find some consistency on offense, and that’ll be the key against the Predators and Juuse Saros, who don’t give up much.
Dylan Strome and Tom Wilson continue to lead the charge offensively, and the second line of Aliaksei Protas-Connor McMichael-Anthony Mantha — dubbed the “McProMo” trio — has remained a consistent contributor.
Thought it broke out last game with a goal, the power play leaves a lot to be desired. All the while, Alex Ovechkin is still looking to bust out amid the longest goal drought of his career.
Defense and a strong penalty kill will also be vital against Nashville, a team that has a lot of firepower and can make you pay for mistakes.
Washington Capitals Players To Watch
- Mantha is riding a four-game point streak.
- Strome has four goals in his last four games and leads the team with 14 this season.
- McMichael and Wilson have points in three of their last four games, and WIlson is coming off a multi-point outing on Thursday.
- Ovechkin is looking to bust out of the longest goal drought of his career (11 games) and has 23 points in 25 career games against the Predators.