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Caps look to strengthen grip on first place

By NBC Sports Washington

With the regular season winding down, the Washington Capitals are looking to hold onto their first-place standing over the Metropolitan Division. And they’ll face a true test Tuesday, when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes in a potential first-round playoff preview.

The Capitals haven’t had the strongest performances of late, struggling on the power play and losing Michal Kempny to injury. As they look to regain their momentum, each game moving forward is a must-win, especially with the Eastern Conference race getting closer and a playoff berth on the line.

What: Carolina Hurricanes vs. Washington Capitals, Game 68 of the 2018-19 NHL Regular Season

Where: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

When: Tuesday, March 26, 7:00 p.m. ET

TV Channel: The Hurricanes at Capitals game will be broadcast on NBC Sports Washington.

Live Stream: You can live stream Hurricanes at Capitals on NBC Sports Washington and on the MyTeams by NBC App.

Radio: Caps 24/7 Radio, 106.7 The Fan FM

Hurricanes at Capitals TV Schedule:

6:00 PM: Caps FaceOff Live

6:30 PM: Caps Pregame Live

7:00 PM: Hurricanes at Capitals (LIVE)

9:30 PM: Capitals Postgame Live

10:00 PM: Capitals Overtime Live

What to Watch For:

  1. Ovechkin approaching 50: The 33-year-old hasn’t scored since putting up two goals against Tampa Bay four games ago, but does have points in six of his last seven games. Can he end the drought and find the back of the net for his eighth 50-goal season?
  2. Nick Jensen rising: The newest Caps’ defenseman has points in two consecutive games and has been generating scoring chances left and right. Can he keep it up as the blue line continues to shuffle?
  3. Opponents to watch: Jordan Staal has been leading the charge of late, putting up points in three straight games. Look for him to keep it going.

Quote of the Day:

“We’re looking for the right combinations that work for us, that can set us up for future success,” head coach Todd Reirden told NBC Sports Washington Sunday. “Just some guys that aren’t 100 percent in terms of, let’s say sickness-wise that are low on energy, so you have to manage those minutes as well. So there’s a lot of things in play that cause for that type of mix and match stuff, both with up front and on our blue line.”

Stats to know:

  • Brett Connolly has points in four of his last five games and ranks third on the team in goals.
  • Carl Hagelin has five points in his last five games and and eight points in 14 games since joining Washington.
  • Travis Boyd ended a 25-game goalless drought with his goal against the Flyers Sunday.

Nicklas Backstrom thinking about ‘little bit of everything’ entering 1,000th game

By Ethan Cadeaux
Backstrom thinking about 'everything' entering 1,000th game originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonCapitals star Nicklas Backstrom will take the ice on Thursday night for the 1,000th time in a Washington sweater, a feat only his longtime teammate Alex Ovechkin has accomplished in franchise history.Ahead of the Capitals matchup with the Sabers on Thursday (coverage begins at 6 p.m. on NBC Sports Washington), the team will show a tribute video pregame celebrating Backstrom on the jumbotron. Additionally, all of his Capitals teammates will wear No. 19 sweaters during warm-ups to honor the 33-year-old's remarkable accomplishment.With an emotional night ahead of Backstrom, the 33-year-old told The Sports Junkies on Thursday that there's a chance he might shed some tears ahead of puck drop."I'm more emotional as a guy now after having kids than I was when I was younger," Backstrom said. "I feel like there's a good chance, yes. I think they'll at least be some water in my eyes."From his early days as a Capital to winning the Stanley Cup, Backstrom said he will be thinking about "a little bit of everything" when watching the tribute video dedicated to him."Honestly, what's going through my mind is all the teammates you've played with," Backstrom said. "Everything is going to go through my mind I think and I'm sure that video is going to present that, too."While fans are still not permitted to attend home games at Capital One Arena until later this month, Backstrom is thankful that his family will be in the building to support him on his special night."I know we're in a pandemic here, but it's gonna be really important for me that my family is going to be there by my side," Backstrom said. "It kind of sucks that the fans aren't going to be there but at the same time, I know they are going to be watching."Although Backstrom is hitting the 1,000-game mark, the forward is still only 33 years old and has plenty of hockey in front of him. Washington has No. 19 under contract through the 2024-25 season, too, after the two sides agreed to an extension last year, one Backstrom negotiated himself.Asked if he envisions himself playing into his mid-40s, the way his new teammate Zdeno Chara has, Backstrom said "it's impossible to answer that." But, Backstrom also has no plans of hanging up the skates anytime soon, either."I'm going to do everything in my power to play as long as I can," Backstrom said. "I love this game and I want to be part of this for many more years."For more interviews, tune into the Sports Junkies on NBC Sports Washington, weekdays from 6-10 a.m.
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