Vancouver @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 22, 2018 ) Washington 5, Vancouver 2

The Washington Capitals failed to build off a big victory after the long break and look to begin putting a baffling slump behind them when they host the improving Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. The Capitals came out of the NHLPA-mandated bye week/All-Star break to post a 4-3 win over Western Conference-leading Calgary on Friday before giving up 39 shots in a 1-0 loss to Boston two days later, falling to 1-6-2 in their last nine games.

“We started to play our game in the last period, and that’s not enough,” Washington defenseman Michal Kempny told reporters after his team was outshot 30-13 over the first 40 minutes. “It’s as simple as that. Obviously, it’s a very tough loss. We have to be better.” The Capitals still are tied for second place in the Metropolitan Division and four points out of first despite their struggles as they prepare to take on a Vancouver team that occupies the second wild-card spot in the West. The Canucks recorded points in six of seven games before hitting a speed bump Monday with a 2-1 loss at Philadelphia despite registering 42 shots. Vancouver managed only an unassisted goal from Brock Boeser and lost veteran defenseman Alex Edler, who needed to be carted off when his face hit the ice hard after his stick got tangled in Flyers forward Jacob Voracek’s skate late in the contest.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific (Vancouver), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE CANUCKS (24-23-6): Calder Trophy frontrunner Elias Pettersson also left the game in Philadelphia, but the 20-year-old center - who leads the team with 23 goals and 46 points - returned later in the contest. Bo Horvat has notched five of his 42 points in the last five contests and Boeser tied the 23-year-old center with his 18th tally on Monday, extending his point streak to five games (three goals, four assists). Coach Travis Green told reporters that Sven Baertschi (eight goals in 22 games) did not feel well when he woke up Sunday in Colorado and may return to Vancouver, but it is not a concussion issue.

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (28-18-6): Washington entered the week first in the league with 191 minor penalties while sitting 24th in penalty-killing at 77.9 percent. “I think as you get past the All-Star break and you start making a push toward the playoffs, that’s an area we have to get better in, as we’ve taken far too many minor penalties with our sticks,” first-year coach Todd Reirden told reporters. “We have to be more disciplined if we’re going to have success moving forward.” Captain Alex Ovechkin has scored four his league-leading 37 goals in his last three games and tops the team with 57 points - five more than Nicklas Backstrom, who has collected 39 assists.

OVERTIME

1. Washington C Lars Eller (lower body) sat out Sunday’s contest and is questionable to face the Canucks.

2. Vancouver RW Jake Virtanen already has recorded a career-high 12 goals but has managed just one over his last 15 games.

3. The Capitals have won six of the previous seven meetings, including a 5-2 win in Vancouver on Oct. 22 in which Ovechkin scored twice.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Canucks 2