Ducks at Capitals preview

DUCKS (14-11-7) at CAPITALS (20-12-1)
8 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, KCOP-13, NHL.TV

The Capitals, 6-1-0 in their past seven games, are 12-2-0 in their past 14 home games, and are in a three-way tie with the Columbus Blue Jackets and New Jersey Devils for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Washington forward Alex Ovechkin has 15 points (nine goals, six assists) in his past 11 games, and is tied for the NHL lead in goals (22) with Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov.
The Ducks, 3-0-3 in their past six games, have not lost in regulation since a 4-2 defeat at Columbus on Dec. 1.

Players to watch

Ducks center Adam Henrique has six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games with Anaheim since being acquired in a trade with the Devils on Nov. 30.
Capitals goalie Braden Holtby is 7-2-0 with 22 goals allowed in his past nine game, and has held opponents to three goals or fewer each game in that span.

They said it

"Every game you learn. I try to take care of the puck. Once I'm in the offensive zone, I try to have creativity and play within myself. Just get out there, try to make plays and take care of the puck." -- Ducks rookie forward Kevin Roy, who has three goals in his past two games
"Their DNA is they come at you and they don't give up much. With some of their big guys out like [Ryan] Kesler and [Corey] Perry, they still have kept that identity that they're hard to play against." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz on the Ducks

#

Ducks projected lineup

Kevin Roy -- Ryan Getzlaf -- Jakob Silfverberg
Andrew Cogliano -- Adam Henrique -- Rickard Rakell
Joseph Blandisi -- Antoine Vermette -- Ondrej Kase
Chris Wagner -- Derek Grant -- Logan Shaw
Cam Fowler -- Josh Manson
Francois Beauchemin -- Brandon Montour
Kevin Bieksa -- Andy Welinski
John Gibson
Ryan Miller
Scratched: Korbinian Holzer, Dennis Rasmussen
Injured:Hampus Lindholm (concussion), Corey Perry (lower body), Ryan Kesler (hip surgery), Nick Ritchie (upper body)

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Alex Chiasson
Brett Connolly -- Lars Eller -- Andre Burakovsky
Chandler Stephenson -- Jay Beagle -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik -- John Carlson
Christian Djoos -- Madison Bowey
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer
Scratched: Taylor Chorney
Injured:T.J. Oshie (upper body)

#

Status report

Orpik is a game-time decision, but took part in the morning skate. Oshie also participated in the skate, but has been ruled out. … The Ducks canceled their morning skate because of a college basketball game at Capital One Arena.

Stat pack

Gibson is 3-1-2 with 14 goals allowed in his past six starts. … Kuznetsov has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past eight games. … Backstrom has six points (three goals, three assists) in his past five games.