Winnipeg @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 14, 2018 ) Washington 1, Winnipeg 3

The Washington Capitals are finding their rhythm at the perfect time entering Sunday’s home contest against the Winnipeg Jets as the defending Stanley Cup champions bring a six-game winning streak into the matchup. The Capitals moved into sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division with Friday’s 3-0 victory over New Jersey, as goaltender Braden Holtby continued his masterful work during Washington’s surge toward the postseason with his fifth straight victory.

“Moving forward here, we want to be a hard team to play against and it starts now,” Washington forward Nicklas Backstrom told the media after Friday’s victory as his team improved to 13-4-1 since ending a seven-game losing streak in late January. The Jets, who fell three victories shy of meeting the Capitals in last year’s Stanley Cup finals, are 4-5-1 in their past 10 games but everything fell together Friday in an 8-1 rout at red-hot Carolina. Fifteen Jets recorded at least a point to lift Winnipeg past Nashville and into first place in the Central Division. “When you roll four lines like that, all 12 forward and six (defensemen), and the goalie contributes, it’s tough to play against,” Winnipeg center Kevin Hayes, one of seven Jets with multi-point games (one goal, one assist), told reporters.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Winnipeg), NBCS Washington

ABOUT THE JETS (40-23-4): Hayes has five points (two goals) in five games since being acquired from the Rangers at the trade deadline. Forward Blake Wheeler extended his point streak to eight games with a goal and an assist, giving him seven goals and eight assists in that span and four consecutive games with a goal. Winnipeg finished 1-for-2 on the power play and was fourth in the NHL on the man advantage (25.7 percent).

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (40-21-7): Forward Alex Ovechkin did not score in Friday’s victory, but remains atop the NHL with 46 goals and has 20 points (nine goals) in his past 16 games. Holtby has allowed eight goals in 304 minutes, 8 seconds during his winning streak, posting a .935 save percentage in that span, and is 9-4-1 in his past 14 starts. Washington was seventh in the league in goals per game (3.38) and ninth in power-play percentage (22 percent).

OVERTIME

1. Winnipeg F Nikolaj Ehlers finished with one goal and two assists Friday, his first multi-point game since returning from injury Feb. 22.

2. Holtby’s 35th career shutout Friday tied Olaf Kolzig for most in Capitals history.

3. Jets F Kyle Connor recorded a goal and an assist in the first meeting of the season, a 3-1 Jets triumph Nov. 14 in Winnipeg.

PREDICTION: Capitals 3, Jets 1