Sharks at Capitals
While the Washington Capitals had no trouble creating offense last time out, they still were unable to put an end to their season-high five-game losing streak. The Capitals attempt to halt the slide when they host the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.
Washington scored a total of four goals in its first four setbacks before breaking out in Chicago on Sunday, but it still suffered an 8-5 defeat to fall to 0-4-1 during a skid that has cost it first place in the Metropolitan Division. While the Capitals finally managed to produce offensively, the output did not come from their expected sources as the team's defense corps recorded all five goals against the Blackhawks. San Jose is also struggling as it has been outscored 18-8 while losing the first three contests of its four-game road trip after beginning the month with seven consecutive victories. Timo Meier scored a goal and set up another in Monday's 6-2 setback at Florida, ending his 17-game drought and leaving him two shy of matching the career high of 21 he scored last season.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBCS California (San Jose), NBCS Washington, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, TVA
ABOUT THE SHARKS (28-16-7): San Jose will be without Erik Karlsson for a third straight game as the defenseman deals with a lower-body injury. The 28-year-old Swede, who has collected three goals and 40 assists over 47 contests in his first season with the Sharks, has not been ruled out of participating in the All-Star Game on Saturday at SAP Center. Joe Thornton is five assists away from tying Gordie Howe for ninth place on the all-time list after notching the 1,044th of his career Monday.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (27-16-5): John Carlson led the charge for Washington on Sunday, registering his first two-goal performance of the season to end his 11-game drought. The 29-year-old defenseman has netted only three tallies in his last 39 contests after scoring in five of his first eight this season. Captain Alex Ovechkin leads the league with 33 goals but has recorded only four over his last 16 games.
OVERTIME
1. Capitals RW T.J. Oshie has collected three goals and four assists over his last seven games.
2. San Jose D Brent Burns, who leads the team with 53 points, needs one goal to become the ninth member of the team to reach double digits.
3. Washington's slide is its longest since it dropped five straight games from Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2014.