Jets at Capitals preview

JETS (32-27-5) at CAPITALS (38-18-6)
7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, TVN3, NHL.TV

Kovalchuk, who was traded from the Montreal Canadiens for a third-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on Sunday, will play on the third line with Carl Hagelin and Lars Eller.
The Capitals, who are 2-5-1 in past their past eight games, lead the Pittsburgh Penguins by two points for first in the Metropolitan Division.
Winnipeg has lost two straight games after a three-game winning streak. The Jets are one point behind the Calgary Flames and the Arizona Coyotes for the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference.
Winnipeg has lost its past seven games in Washington (0-5-2); its last victory was Jan. 22, 2013.

Players to watch

Jets center Mark Scheifele has eight points (three goals, five assists) in a four-game point streak.
Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has two points (two goals) in his past eight games after he had 15 points (14 goals, one assist) in his previous seven.

They said it

"We've really scratched and clawed our way to get to this point. This year there's been a lot of ups and downs. I feel we'll be able to handle any adversity that comes our way in the next 18 (games) and I feel like we're ready to make the final push and get in the playoffs." -- Jets forward Andrew Copp
"His resume speaks for itself. But the skill set that he brings, a hunger to try to win the game's ultimate prize, and I think just the ability to move up and down our lineup and add an additional scoring threat. We're really excited to have him." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden on Kovalchuk

Jets projected lineup

Jansen Harkins -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor -- Andrew Copp -- Patrik Laine
Nikolaj Ehlers -- Cody Eakin -- Jack Roslovic
Gabriel Bourque -- Nicholas Shore -- Mason Appleton
Dmitry Kulikov -- Neal Pionk
Nathan Beaulieu -- Dylan DeMelo
Sami Niku -- Tucker Poolman
Laurent Brossoit
Connor Hellebuyck
Scratched:Anthony Bitetto, Logan Shaw
Injured:Josh Morrissey (upper body), Bryan Little (head), Mathieu Perreault (upper body), Adam Lowry (upper body), Carl Dahlstrom (broken hand), Mark Letestu (heart virus), Luca Sbisa (upper body)

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie
Carl Hagelin -- Lars Eller -- Ilya Kovalchuk
Richard Panik -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Brenden Dillon -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Michal Kempny -- Radko Gudas
Braden Holtby
Ilya Samsonov
Scratched:Travis Boyd, Jonas Siegenthaler, Brendan Leipsic
Injured:None

Status report

Jets coach Paul Maurice said Morrissey, a defenseman who will miss his second game, is day to day. … Panik moves from the third line to the fourth and Leipsic will be a healthy scratch.

Stat pack

Winnipeg is 15-for-15 on the penalty kill over its past six games and 21-for-22 over its past nine. … The Jets have allowed the first goal in eight straight games. … Carlson has 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in his past 11 games. ... Backstrom has five assists in his past three games.