Crunch Time: Capitals Brace For Yet Another 'Biggest Game Of The Year,' This Time Against The Rival Penguins

Here's where things stand now for the Capitals.

ARLINGTON, V.A. — Eight days ago, the Washington Capitals faced the Detroit Red Wings in what was their "biggest game of the year." Now, with eight games left on the regular season circuit, they head back into the fire for another game of the same significance, this time against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins.

Washington is 0-2-1 in the last three games and needs all the points it can get as it sits tied with the Detroit Red Wings for the second Wild Card spot. The Capitals are also one point behind the Philadelphia Flyers for third in the Metropolitan Division.

All the while, Sidney Crosby is powering a late push for his Penguins, who are three points out of Wild Card territory and could turn the tables with a win in D.C. The New York Islanders also sit one point out of a playoff spot.

So, when it comes to the status of Thursday's tilt, which renews the iconic Alex Ovechkin-Sidney Crosby rivalry, it's a must-win, one that's analogical to Game 7 for head coach Spencer Carbery.

"We know the circumstances surrounding tomorrow," Carbery said. "It's our biggest game of the year... most important time of the year. And now, with the runway getting extremely short, our guys understand what's at stake."

The Sabres are the next team behind Pittsburgh at 77 points.

When it comes to the odds, the Flyers' chances increased over the Capitals, as Philadelphia now has a 61.9 percent chance of making it while D.C. sits at 54.8 percent. Detroit is right behind at 42.8, and the Islanders and Penguins are at 22.7 and 15.1 percent, respectively.

Those odds can change at the drop of a hat, though; Washington knows that. After Thursday's game, there's no stepping off the gas, as the team immediately takes off for Carolina for a meeting with the Hurricanes. After that, the schedule consists of bouts with the Red Wings and Flyers, along with the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning and other top-tier Eastern opponents.

Of course, Thursday will revisit the bad blood and history between two clubs as Ovechkin and Crosby enter the twilight of their era and play in what could be the final do-or-die game between them. 

"The last decade or so, it's just been, it's going to be a big game no matter what time of year and no matter what the standings are," Wilson added. "It's two teams that are always competing to be good and always competing against each other for spots, so it's no different right now."

The Capitals host Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, and the belief is still very much alive in the room with every game a playoff game going forward.

"We've been battling for the last month to put ourselves in this position, to have a crack at this thing... we're excited about it," Tom Wilson, who returns from his six-game suspension on Thursday, said. "I believe in this group."