Washington @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 1, 2019 ) Calgary 3, Washington 4

John Carlson took it upon himself to turn around the fortunes of the Washington Capitals as the defenseman answered consecutive three-point performances with an assist to extend the team's winning streak to three games. Named the NHL's Second Star of the Week, Carlson carries a seven-game point streak (three goals, 12 assists) into Tuesday's tilt as the Capitals visit the Calgary Flames.

Carlson set up captain Alex Ovechkin's third-period goal in Washington's 5-3 win over Chicago on Sunday to join Hall of Famers Bobby Orr and Paul Coffey as the lone NHL defensemen to record at least 18 points in his team's opening 10 games to a season. The 29-year-old can match Mike Green and Scott Stevens for the longest assist streak in franchise history should he set up a goal in his eighth consecutive contest. Calgary has put the clamps down defensively of late, surrendering just one goal in three of its last four contests (3-1-0) heading into the opener of a three-game homestand. The Flames are 3-0-1 at Scotiabank Saddledome this season after posting a scorching 26-10-5 mark at home in 2018-19.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington, Sportsnet (Calgary)

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (6-2-2): Like Carlson, Ovechkin is also riding a seven-game point streak (five goals, four assists), and the three-time Hart Trophy recipient has cooled off the Flames to the tune of recording 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 17 career encounters. Fellow forward T.J. Oshie continued his torrid start to the season by scoring a power-play goal midway into the first period, getting Washington off on the right foot as it began its five-game road trip with a victory. "It's a big lift," the 32-year-old Oshie said of setting the tone in the opener. "It's a long trip, and if you lose the first one, you don't know what happens on the second one. It can make for kind of a tough one."

ABOUT THE FLAMES (5-4-1): Mikael Backlund scored in his second straight game in Sunday's 2-1 victory over Anaheim heading into a tilt versus Washington, against which he also tallied in a 4-3 loss on Feb. 1. David Rittich is expected to be back in net after yielding four goals on 28 shots before being relieved by Cam Talbot in a 4-1 setback at Los Angeles. The 27-year-old Rittich hopes the comforts of home get him back on track, as he sports a 3-0-1 mark with a .952 save percentage and 1.50 goals-against average in four starts this season.

OVERTIME

1. Calgary LW Johnny Gaudreau has just one point (an assist) in his last five games after recording seven (three goals, four assists) in his previous five.

2. Washington has fared well away from the nation's capital with wins in four of its first five contests.

3. Flames C Elias Lindholm scored in both losses to the Capitals last season.

PREDICTION: Capitals 5, Flames 3