Capitals at Blackhawks
The stunning first-to-worst collapse continues to get worse for the Chicago Blackhawks, who have yet to win in February and have gone five weeks since they were last victorious at home. The Blackhawks will attempt to put an end to a pair of droughts when they welcome the Metropolitan Division-leading Washington Capitals on Saturday night.
Chicago, which last dropped nine straight games six years ago, was unable to hold a two-goal lead in Thursday's 3-2 loss to Anaheim -- its eighth consecutive defeat overall (0-7-1) and seventh in a row at home. “I don’t know if it’s the situation we’re in or what, but it seems like we’re lacking that confidence,” forward Brandon Saad said after his team fell 12 points out of the final playoff spot. "Sometimes when it rains, it pours. And it’s kind of snowballing in the wrong direction.” The Capitals halted a two-game skid and extended their point streak to five games (3-0-2) behind superstar Alex Ovechkin, who had a goal and three assists in Thursday's 5-2 win at Minnesota. Tom Wilson scored twice against the Wild and also had two goals and two assists as Washington bludgeoned the Blackhawks 6-2 on Dec. 6.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, WGN (Chicago)
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (33-17-7): Ovechkin surpassed his goal total from last season by scoring his NHL-high 34th against Minnesota while his four-point night gave him an even 1,100 for his career. Ovechkin, who needs eight goals to become the 20th player in league history to reach 600 for his career, has amassed 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists) in 21 games since the Christmas break. Wilson's two goals on Thursday gave him a career-best nine -- he had registered seven while playing in 82 games in each of the past two seasons.
ABOUT THE BLACKHAWKS (24-26-8): A punchless offense that has produced two goals or fewer seven times in the eight-game skid and the absence of No. 1 netminder Corey Crawford for nearly two months are responsible for Chicago's tailspin. The Blackhawks have scored the opening goal in 10 of their last 13 games yet have won only twice in that span. "We've been talking about trying to get that good feeling in here, just winning one game, and that starts by winning a period and then just carrying it through for a full 60 minutes," defenseman Duncan Keith said.
OVERTIME
1. The Capitals have won three straight and six of seven in the series versus Chicago.
2. Chicago, which lost nine in a row from Jan. 21-Feb. 13, 2012, hasn't won at home since Jan. 12.
3. Capitals G Braden Holtby is 7-2-0 with a 2.21 goals-against average versus the Blackhawks.