Jets at Capitals
THE STORY: A trip home helped reenergize the struggling Washington Capitals two nights ago. Maintaining their momentum will be critical as they welcome the division-rival Winnipeg Jets to the U.S. capital on Wednesday. Washington has just four victories in its last 12 games, but looked like it might be turning the corner following a 4-3 triumph over a talented Phoenix Coyotes club on Monday. The win improved the Capitals' home record to 7-1-1, tied with Pittsburgh for the best mark in the Eastern Conference. The Jets represent a good test for Washington, sitting just four points behind the Capitals in the Southeast after putting together an impressive three-game winning streak. That includes a thorough 4-1 beating of visiting Washington in their previous encounter last Thursday night. Winnipeg has won the last four meetings between the clubs, limiting the Capitals to just two goals in that span.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, Comcast SportsNet Washington
ABOUT THE JETS (8-9-3): The league has no shortage of comeback player-of-the-year candidates in the early going, and Jets forward Kyle Wellwood is at the top of the heap. The journeyman center is enjoing a career renaissance in Winnipeg, leading the club with 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 20 games and looking stronger as the season progresses. The 28-year-old has been sensational during the winning streak, registering a goal and four assists.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (11-7-1): Washington prevailed Monday night despite playing without forward Alexander Semin, who was a healthy scratch after struggling through the first 18 games of the season. A former 40-goal scorer, Semin has just four this season and is a minus-3. Teammate Alex Ovechkin is drawing the majority of the fans' ire for his sub-zero start to the campaign, but Semin likely deserves as much attention for his lack of production.
OVERTIME:
1. Ovechkin was held scoreless in the first game against Winnipeg. He has 30 goals and 33 assists in 43 career encounters versus the Jets.
2. The home team has prevailed in nine of the last 10 head-to-head meetings, the only exception coming in a 3-1 Jets victory last Dec. 4.