Red Wings at Capitals
While the Washington Capitals are comfortably in playoff position, they are in a dogfight for first place in the Metropolitan Division following a stretch of pedestrian hockey dating to the All-Star break. Holding a one-point edge over Philadelphia atop the division, the Capitals will kick off a three-game homestand on Thursday against the league-worst Detroit Red Wings.
Washington lost for the third time in its last four and was denied in its bid to post back-to-back wins for only the second time since the All-Star break in Monday's 3-2 shootout defeat to Buffalo. "This time of the year, we want to be getting to the next level, and we are staying average," goaltender Braden Holtby said. "We got to find a way to push forward here." The Capitals have won five in a row against the Red Wings, who were denied in their bid for a season high-tying third straight victory in Tuesday's 5-2 home loss to Carolina. "We've been playing some great hockey," forward Robby Fabbri said after Detroit was limited to two goals or fewer for the 11th time in 14 games. "We just gotta keep a calm head and keep going, even when things aren't going our way."
TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Washington, FS Detroit
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (17-49-5): Tyler Bertuzzi went nearly a full month without a goal, failing to score in 13 games before converting in each of the last three to boost his team-leading total to 21, matching his career high from last season. Bertuzzi, who has three assists during the three-game point streak, also eclipsed his personal best of 47 points from last season but he has only one assist in six meetings versus Washington. Forward Sam Gagner will miss Thursday's game while rookie Filip Zadina will not accompany the team on the two-game trek.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (41-20-8): Washington did pick up points in all three games on its road trip (1-0-2) but was forced to earn one the hard way by rallying for a pair of third-period goals against Buffalo as Alex Ovechkin scored his co-league leading 48th before assisting on the tying tally. Ovechkin is nearing a major milestone, needing a pair of goals to join Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky and Mike Bossy as the only players in history with nine 50-goal seasons. Ovechkin has eight goals in his last 10 overall and had a hat trick against Detroit on Nov. 30.
OVERTIME
1. Capitals G Braden Holtby is 12-2-2 with a 2.09 goals-against average versus Detroit.
2. Red Wings D Anthony Mantha has 11 points in the last 10 games overall and four in eight matchups versus Washington.
3. Capitals coach Todd Reirden juggled his defensemen Wednesday, moving Michal Kempny to the top pairing with John Carlson.