Winnipeg @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 10, 2019 ) Winnipeg 1, Washington 3

The Washington Capitals lead the Metropolitan Division and sit in third place in the Eastern Conference entering Tuesday’s home contest against the Winnipeg Jets. It was a noteworthy weekend for the Capitals, who saw captain Alex Ovechkin score his 700th career goal in Saturday’s loss to New Jersey, then bounced back to down Pittsburgh on Sunday and later announced it had acquired forward Ilya Kovalchuk from Montreal for the stretch run.

The trade boosts the Capitals forward lines by adding Kovalchuk, who looked rejuvenated in recording 13 points (six goals) in 22 games with Montreal after being released by Los Angeles. “Obviously, looking to go all the way,” Kovalchuk, who scored 328 of his 442 career goals with the Jets franchise when it was based in Atlanta from 2001-2010, told reporters before leaving Montreal on Monday. “Hopefully, we’ll do some damage in the playoffs.” The Jets are 3-4-0 in their past seven games after back-to-back weekend losses at Philadelphia and Buffalo, and began the week one point out of the final Western Conference playoff spot. “We have a lot of hockey to play still,” Jets captain Blake Wheeler told reporters after Sunday’s 2-1 loss. “We’re still in the race. We have a lot to play for.”

TIME: 7 p.m. ET. TV: NBCS Washington, TSN3

ABOUT THE JETS (32-27-5): Wheeler scored his 21st goal of the season Sunday, giving him six points (three goals) during a four-game point streak and securing his seventh consecutive 20-goal season. Rookie forward Jansen Harkins earned a promotion into the Jets top line Sunday in his 24th career game, contributing an assist to give him three points in his past five games. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck allowed six goals on 55 shots in losing both starts over the weekend, after going 5-2-1 with a .927 save percentage in his previous eight games.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (38-18-6): Forward Carl Hagelin scored twice, including his 100th career goal, in Sunday’s 5-3 victory that pushed Washington into the division lead. Ovechkin, who became the eighth player in NHL history to reach 700 career goals in Saturday’s 3-2 defeat, opened the week third in the league with 42 goals and has scored in two of his past three contests after a five-game drought. Defenseman John Carlson registered his 475th NHL point with an assist on Hagelin’s first goal, making him the franchise leader among defensemen and giving him 12 points (10 assists) in his past 11 games.

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg played Sunday without D Josh Morrissey, who suffered an upper-body injury Saturday.

2. Capitals G Braden Holtby stopped 32-of-35 shots Sunday to snap a three-game losing streak (0-2-1).

3. Jets C Cody Eakin played 14:23 and had four hits in his debut Sunday, after the Winnipeg native was acquired in a Friday trade with Vegas.

PREDICTION: Capitals 3, Jets 2