Senators at Capitals preview

SENATORS (8-5-6) at CAPITALS (11-10-1)
7 p.m. ET; SNE, TVA Sports, NBCSWA, NHL.TV

Since returning from two wins against the Colorado Avalanche in the SAP NHL Global Series in Stockholm on Nov. 10 and 11, the Senators have been outscored 9-3 in going 0-2-1.
The Capitals are 1-3-0 in their past four games after going 5-1-0 in their previous six games. Forward Alex Ovechkin has not scored a goal in six games, his longest such streak since going without a goal the final seven games of last season.

Players to watch

Senators goaltender Craig Anderson is 11-7-2 in 20 games against Washington, with a 2.39 goals-against average, .922 save percentage and two shutouts.
Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom has not scored a goal in 15 games, his worst stretch since going 18 games without a goal from Feb. 4-March 7, 2016.

They said it

"[Alex] Ovechkin killed us the first game. We were winning 3-1 with 15 minutes left in the game and we were doing terrific and then Ovechkin just decided he was taking over. So, obviously, we can't let him take over." -- Ottawa coach Guy Boucher on a 5-4 shootout loss against Washington on Oct. 5
"I think there's a history there. He could have had three [goals] the other day. I'm not that concerned. But we do need production from our top guys." -- Capitals coach Barry Trotz on forward Nicklas Backstrom

Senators projected lineup

Tom Pyatt -- Matt Duchene -- Bobby Ryan
Ryan Dzingel -- Derick Brassard -- Mark Stone
Mike Hoffman -- Jean-Gabriel Pageau -- Alexandre Burrows
Nick Paul -- Nate Thompson
Fredrik Claesson -- Erik Karlsson
Dion Phaneuf -- Cody Ceci
Johnny Oduya -- Thomas Chabot
Ben Harpur
Craig Anderson
Mike Condon
Scratched:None
Injured: Mark Borowiecki (concussion), Zach Smith (thumb), Chris Wideman (groin)

Capitals projected lineup

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

Status report

The Senators will skate 11 forwards and seven defensemen. … Chabot, 20, was recalled from Belleville of the American Hockey League on Monday to replace Borowiecki, injured in a 3-0 loss Sunday at the New York Rangers. … Ottawa claimed forward Gabriel Dumont on waivers from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Dumont will not be available against the Capitals, but will join the Senators before their game Friday at the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Stat pack

Duchene has no points in five games with the Senators since being acquired in a three-way trade with the Colorado Avalanche and Nashville Senators on Nov. 5. … Holtby is 6-3-0 with a .943 save percentage and 1.88 goals-against average in nine home games this season.