Los Angeles @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 4, 2019 ) Washington 3, Los Angeles 1

The Washington Capitals have answered collecting at least a point in 39 of their first 50 games with splitting their four decisions since returning from the All-Star break. While the recent run is hardly cause for alarm, the Capitals would like to get back on the fast track Tuesday when they host the Los Angeles Kings.

Washington saw its lead atop the Metropolitan Division trimmed to four points over Pittsburgh after dropping a 4-3 decision to the Penguins on Sunday afternoon. The regulation setback was the second consecutive at home for the Capitals, marking the first time that has happened since January 2019. Losses have been commonplace for the Kings, who dropped six of their last seven games (1-5-1) and 17 of 25 (8-14-3) after their 3-1 setback to Washington on Dec. 4. Los Angeles' offense hasn't been much better of late, as it has scored just 13 goals during its last seven games following a 3-1 loss to Anaheim on Saturday in the Freeway Face-Off.

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Washington, FS West

ABOUT THE KINGS (19-29-5): Captain Anze Kopitar has set up four goals in the three contests since the All-Star Game festivities to boost his team-leading totals in assists (30) and points (47). Kopitar set up Tyler Toffoli's goal with the man advantage, marking the third straight game that Los Angeles has scored on the power play -- an occurrence that last happened in January 2019. The Kings are 11-for-25 on the power play (44 percent) since New Year's Eve, although they failed to convert both of their opportunities in the previous encounter with the Capitals.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (35-13-5): Superstar captain Alex Ovechkin saw his five-game goal-scoring streak (11 goals) come to a halt against the rival Penguins, leaving the three-time Hart Trophy recipient temporarily stuck on a team-leading 37 for the season and 695 in his career. Fellow Russian Evgeny Kuznetsov scored in his second straight game on Sunday afternoon, but countryman Ilya Samsonov saw a string of 11 straight winning decisions come to an end after yielding four goals on 33 shots. Coach Todd Reirden did not announce if Samsonov would receive a third straight start or if struggling former Vezina Trophy recipient Braden Holtby will man the crease after permitting at least four goals in six of his last nine appearances.

OVERTIME

1. Kings D Drew Doughty is hoping to end a three-game absence due to an undisclosed injury, the Los Angeles Times reported.

2. Washington sports a 9-0-3 record against Pacific Division representatives.

3. Kings D Alec Martinez has recorded two assists in his last three games to move within two points of 200 for his career.

PREDICTION: Capitals 5, Kings 1