NBCSN’s coverage of the 2018-19 NHL season continues with Tuesday night’s matchup between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. Coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. You can watch the game online and on the NBC Sports app by clicking here.
This is the fourth and final meeting between these two rivals this season, with Pittsburgh winning two of the first three meetings. Each of the first three games were decided by one goal. Pittsburgh defeated Washington 7-6 in OT on Oct. 4 in Pittsburgh – the Penguins’ opening night of the season; Washington won at home 2-1 in November and Pittsburgh won 2-1 in Washington in December.
Washington is currently first in the Metro with 89 points. They lead the Islanders by two points and the Hurricanes and Penguins by six points each entering Tuesday night’s action. The Caps are searching for their fourth straight division title. The Caps have won four consecutive division titles only once before in franchise history, winning four straight Southeast Division crowns from 2007-08 to 2010-11.
Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin recorded two points – a goal and an assist – in the team’s 5-3 win over Philadelphia last week to bring his career total to 1,199 points. But Ovechkin has now gone two straight games without a point and is still shy of 1,200 for his career. Ovechkin has 58 career points (35 goals, 23 assists) in 55 reg. season games vs Pittsburgh, so there is a great chance he reaches the milestone in this game.
The Penguins have won four of their last five games (4-1-0) and have earned points in seven of their last eight games overall (5-1-2) to move into the first Wild Card in the East. Pittsburgh is getting contributions all throughout their lineup right now, but one constant force has been goalie Matt Murray, who has started each of Pittsburgh’s last eight games. Murray is 5-1-2 in his last 8 starts with 2.22 GAA and .931 SV%. He made 39 saves on 41 shots in Sunday’s 4-2 win over Boston and has allowed two goals or fewer in five of those eight games.
Evgeni Malkin is stuck on 998 career points after being held without a point in Sunday’s win over Boston. Malkin is looking to become the fifth active player with 1,000 points.
[WATCH LIVE – COVERAGE BEGINS AT 6 P.M. ET – NBCSN]
What: Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins
Where: PPG Paints Arena
When: Tuesday, March 12, 6 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN
Live stream: You can watch the Capitals-Penguins stream on NBC Sports’ live stream page and the NBC Sports app.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
CAPITALS
Alex Ovechkin - Evgeny Kuznetsov - Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana - Nick Backstrom - T.J. Oshie
Carl Hagelin - Lars Eller - Brett Connolly
Andre Burakovsky - Nic Dowd - Travis Boyd
Michal Kempny - John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov - Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik - Nick Jensen
Starting goalie: Braden Holtby
PENGUINS
Jared McCann - Sidney Crosby - Jake Guentzel
Teddy Blueger - Evgeni Malkin - Phil Kessel
Dominik Simon - Nick Bjugstad - Patric Hornqvist
Joseph Blandisi - Matt Cullen - Garrett Wilson
Jack Johnson - Justin Schultz
Brian Dumoulin - Zach Trotman
Marcus Pettersson - Erik Gudbranson
Starting goalie: Matt Murray
Gord Miller (play-by-play) and Brian Boucher (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call from Pittsburgh. Pre-game coverage starts at 6 p.m. ET with NHL Live, hosted by Paul Burmeister alongside Keith Jones and Anson Carter.