Senators at Capitals
The Washington Capitals hope to give their penalty-killers some much-needed rest Sunday as they attempt to post back-to-back wins for the first time in more than two weeks when they host the Ottawa Senators. Washington was short-handed nine times in Saturday's 6-2 triumph at New Jersey but did not allow a power-play goal, improving their penalty-killing percentage to 86.9 percent.
The Capitals' success versus the Devils placed them third in the league, just behind second-place Boston (87 percent), and put them in line to win consecutive contests for the first time since they registered a six-game winning streak from Dec. 5-16. Ottawa has been involved in four straight one-goal contests but has lost the last two, including a 3-2 overtime setback at home against Detroit on Thursday. Derick Brassard appears to have found his scoring touch for the Senators, as he has recorded four of his eight goals on the season over his last six games. Following Sunday's contest, Ottawa will be idle until Saturday, when it hosts Washington in the opener of a four-game homestand.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Sportsnet, TVA (Ottawa), CSN Mid-Atlantic (Washington)
ABOUT THE SENATORS (20-12-4): While the return of Brassard's goal-scoring prowess has been welcome, Ottawa would like to see the same happen to Kyle Turris. The 27-year-old center leads the team with 12 tallies but enters Sunday with a six-game drought and has netted just one over his last 10 contests. Turris, who has scored 20 or more goals only twice in his previous eight seasons — including a career-high 26 in 2013-14 — is one away from matching his total in 57 games last campaign.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (21-9-5): Washington received plenty of offensive contributions in Saturday's victory as 13 of its 18 skaters — and 10 of its 12 forwards — landed on the scoresheet. Captain Alex Ovechkin has recorded a goal in three of his last four games to raise his team-leading total to 17 but has gone six contests without a power-play tally. The Capitals are hoping T.J. Oshie is ready to break out of his funk, as the veteran right wing ended his five-game point drought Saturday with a goal and an assist.
OVERTIME
1. Ovechkin is three goals away from passing Maurice Richard (544) for 29th place on the all-time list and six points shy of becoming the 84th player in NHL history to record 1,000 in his career.
2. Six of Ottawa LW Mike Hoffman's 10 goals this season have come on the power play while three have been game-winners.
3. Washington C Nicklas Backstrom needs two assists to reach 500 for his career.