Washington @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 19, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 2, Washington 1

The Pittsburgh Penguins look to put a halt to an opponent's gaudy streak for the second consecutive contest on Tuesday when they host the Washington Capitals. The Penguins, who snapped Boston's 19-game point run with a 4-2 victory on Sunday, will encounter a Capitals club that has won a season high-tying seven in a row to ascend to the top of the Metropolitan Division.

The three previous meetings between the teams have all resulted in one-goal decisions, with Pittsburgh posting a 2-1-0 mark after superstar captain Sidney Crosby scored and set up a goal in a 2-1 win in Washington on Dec. 19. The 31-year-old Crosby and fellow former Hart Trophy recipient Alex Ovechkin traditionally have stepped up when paired on the same stage, with the former notching five (two goals, three assists) of his 68 career points against the Capitals this season while the latter has two (both goals) of his 58 versus the Penguins in 2018-19. While Crosby eclipsed the 1,200-point plateau last Tuesday, Ovechkin has been stuck on 1,999 after being held off the scoresheet in each of Washington's last two games. Former Pittsburgh forward Carl Hagelin stepped up, however, by scoring the go-ahead goal on a breakaway in the second period of Sunday's 3-1 victory over Winnipeg.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, TVAS, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

ABOUT THE CAPITALS (41-21-7): Although Nicklas Backstrom has scored in three straight games, the 31-year-old Swede appeared to be happier with the team thwarting all five of the Jets' power-play opportunities. "Things didn't go our way like the first 50, 60 games but I feel like everyone is more committed now and we're blocking shots and we're working for each other," Backstrom said of the penalty kill. "I think we're a little more aggressive, too, which sometimes makes it harder for the power play." John Carlson set up Backstrom's first-period goal on Sunday to become the third Washington defenseman to reach the 50-assist plateau in back-to-back seasons, joining Hall of Famers Scott Stevens (1986-89) and Larry Murphy (1986-88).

ABOUT THE PENGUINS (37-23-9): Jared McCann scored two goals for the second time in seven contests to give him eight (five goals, three assists) of his career-high 29 points in that stretch. Matt Murray is enjoyed a sterling eight-game run, allowing two goals or fewer in five of those contests. "We're down the stretch here, so every game is huge," the 24-year-old Murray said after turning aside 39 shots on Sunday. "It's basically playoff hockey from here on out, so (it) doesn't really matter who we're playing against. ... Every game is going to be like that."

OVERTIME

1. Washington G Braden Holtby has turned aside 115 of 123 shots during his five-start winning streak.

2. Pittsburgh C Jake Guentzel, who leads the team with 34 goals, has five tallies and four assists in his last five games.

3. This marks the second season in Capitals' franchise history that the club has recorded multiple win streaks of seven games, joining the 1992-93 campaign.

PREDICTION: Capitals 4, Penguins 3