San Jose @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 3, 2019 ) Washington 5, San Jose 2

Staring at the possibility of losing three straight in regulation for the first time this season, Washington Capitals coach Todd Reirden was not afraid to go with a backup plan Friday in Carolina. The move paid off and now Reirden will have No. 1 netminder Braden Holtby rested and ready for Sunday's matchup against the visiting San Jose Sharks.

Reirden opted to sit Holtby, who had allowed 13 goals in his previous three starts, in favor of Ilya Samsonov and the Russian rookie responded by making 38 saves in Friday's 4-3 victory to become the first goaltender in history to win his first eight road starts in one season. "I think that's the best (goaltending) duo in the league right now," said fellow Russian Evgeny Kuznetsov, who was unable to practice Saturday due to illness and is questionable for Sunday. The Sharks have won three of four following a 1-8-2 tailspin and will be bidding to beat their third straight Metropolitan Division opponent after posting consecutive 3-2 wins at Pittsburgh and Columbus. San Jose improved to 14-0-1 when leading after two periods in Saturday's victory over the Blue Jackets while recording back-to-back victories for the first time since Nov. 29-30.

TIME: 12:30 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS California (San Jose), NBCS Washington, Sportsnet, TVA

ABOUT THE SHARKS (19-21-3): Offense has been a season-long issue for San Jose, which entered Saturday's contest ranked 26th in the league with an average of 2.62 goals. A positive sign for the Sharks was all three goals came from players mired in slumps: Kevin Labanc ended a 10-game drought with the decisive tally, Barclay Goodrow scored his first in 21 contests and Evander Kane notched his first non-empty net tally in 14 games. Kane's goal against the Capitals earlier this month was in 17th in 33 meetings.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (28-9-5): Kuznetsov continued his recent tear by scoring his fourth goal in three games in Friday's victory after tallying once in his previous 12 contests and also added an assist to run his point streak to four, but he was told to stay home for Saturday's practice. Also ending a scoring slump was second-line forward Jakub Vrana, who ended a 10-game goal drought with his 16th on the season - all coming during five-on-five play. Vrana also netted a pair of goals in a 5-2 victory at San Jose on Dec. 3.

OVERTIME

1. Sharks G Martin Jones takes a 5-4-0 record and 2.79 goals-against average versus Washington into Sunday's start.

2. Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin, who owns points in five straight overall, has scored only six of his 24 goals at home.

3. San Jose's Doug Wilson on Saturday became the 19th GM in league history to notch 700 regular-season wins.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Sharks 2