Sabres at Capitals preview

SABRES (19-9-4) at CAPITALS (19-9-3)
7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, MSG-B, NHL.TV

The Capitals forward has 22 points (16 goals, six assists) in a 13-game point streak to match the longest in his NHL career and has scored at least one goal in five straight games, including hat tricks against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday and the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday.
Ovechkin also had a 13-game point streak (20 points; eight goals, 12 assists) from Jan. 1-Feb. 1, 2007.
Washington eyes its fifth straight win and is 11-2-0 in its past 13 games after a 6-5 shootout win Friday at Carolina. The Capitals have scored four or more goals in eight of their past nine games.
The Sabres have won their past two games after a five-game losing streak (0-3-2) and are 12-3-2 in their past 17 games.

Players to watch

Sabres forward Sam Reinhart has 11 points (five goals, six assists) in an eight-game point streak.
Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in his past eight games.

They said it

"It's going to be a very good test. They're healthy right now. They've got their full lineup. It's going to be a great challenge for our guys to get ready and play in difficult circumstances in their building; not getting the matchups that we want." -- Sabres coach Phil Housley
"He came back after winning the Stanley Cup. He was ready to go from Day One and he hasn't stopped since." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden on forward Alex Ovechkin

Sabres projected lineup

Jeff Skinner -- Jack Eichel -- Sam Reinhart
Conor Sheary -- Casey Mittelstadt -- Kyle Okposo
Tage Thompson -- Vladimir Sobotka -- Jason Pominville
Evan Rodrigues -- Johan Larsson -- Zemgus Girgensons
Rasmus Dahlin -- Zach Bogosian
Lawrence Pilut -- Rasmus Ristolainen
Nathan Beaulieu -- Matt Tennyson
Carter Hutton
Linus Ullmark
Scratched:Remi Elie
Injured:Marco Scandella (upper body), Jake McCabe (lower body), Casey Nelson (upper body), Scott Wilson (ankle), Matt Hunwick (neck)
Suspended:Patrik Berglund

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie
Jakub Vrana -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Brett Connolly -- Lars Eller -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Chandler Stephenson -- Nic Dowd -- Travis Boyd
Michal Kempny -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Madison Bowey
Pheonix Copley
Braden Holtby
Scratched: Andre Burakovsky, Dmitrij Jaskin, Tyler Lewington
Injured:Christian Djoos (leg), Brooks Orpik (knee)

Status report

Berglund has been suspended indefinitely by the Sabres for "failure to report." He has missed the past two games because of an illness. … Scandella practiced Friday and may play. … Lewington was recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League.

Stat pack

Hutton is 9-2-0 with a 2.18 goals-against average and .929 save percentage in his past 11 starts. … Eichel has seven points (five goals, two assists) in a four-game point streak. … The Capitals were the last team to record a hat trick in three consecutive games (Ovechkin, Brooks Laich, Alexander Semin) from Feb. 7-11, 2010.