NHL Game Preview: Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins with Line Combinations 2/22/2025

Tom Wilson #43 skating for the Washington Capitals
Photo: Kevin Neufeld | Inside The Rink

Washington Capitals (64-11-8, 80 pts) at Pittsburgh Penguins (23-25-9, 55 pts)

Venue: PPG Paints Arena
Date: Saturday, February 22
Time: 3:00 pm EST

TV: ESPN+ / ABC
Radio:
Washington Capitals – WJFK 106.7 FM / WFED 1500 AM
Pittsburgh Penguins – 105.9 The X

DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Washington Capitals -1.5 ML -165
Pittsburgh Penguins +1.5 ML +140
O/U 5.5

Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster

Washington Capitals News & Notes:

The Capitals were the only team in the NHL without a player in the 4 Nations Tournament, which should give the Metropolitan leading club some extra motivation down the stretch as well as some much-needed rest as they prepare for what could be a deep playoff run. Washington is 10 points in front of second-place Carolina as they travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins this afternoon. The Capitals are 19-7-2 on the road this season.

Pittsburgh Penguins News & Notes:

Pittsburgh lost two of their last three games heading into the 4 Nations break and now square off with one of the best teams in the NHL. Rakell and Karlsson were at practice yesterday, but Crosby and coaches Quinn and Sullivan were absent. This is the third of four meetings between these clubs with the Penguins taking a 4-2 victory in the first meeting and then the Capitals winning the next contest 4-1 in D.C.

Washington Capitals Projected Lines:

Ovechkin-Strome-Wilson
McMichael-Dubois-Protas
Mangiapane-Eller-Frank
Duhaime-Dowd-Raddysh

Sandin-Carlson
Chychrun-van Riemsdyk
Fehervary-Roy

Thompson
Lindgren

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Pittsburgh Penguins Projected Lines:

Rakell-Crosby-Rust
Bunting-Malkin-Glass
Beauvillier-Hayes-Tomasino
Heinen-Lizotte-Acciari

P.O. Joseph-Letang
Grzelcyk-Karlsson
Graves-Desharnais

Nedeljkovic
Blomqvist

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Players To Watch:

Washington Capitals

Tom Wilson has four goals and two assists in four games in February, including two goals in the Capitals’ last game before the break. In the two matchups with the Penguins this season, the rugged winger has two assists. Wilson has already equaled his career high with 24 goals with over a quarter of the season remaining.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin will make his return to the lineup this afternoon for the first time since January 25 in Seattle. The 38-year-old future Hall of Famer spoke to the media and announced his intentions to stay in Pittsburgh as there were rumors he might return to Russia to play for the last few years of his career. Malkin has 34 points (9g, 25a) in an injury-shortened season for the Penguins.

Injury Report:

Washington Capitals

LW Sonny Milano – IR
RW TJ Oshie – LTIR
C Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR

Pittsburgh Penguins

C Sidney Crosby – Game Time Decision
D Jack St. Ivany – OUT

Next Game:

Washington Capitals – February 23 vs. Edmonton Oilers
Pittsburgh Penguins – February 23 vs. New York Rangers

Season 4. Episode 31. The Draft Lottery Bruins Benders Podcast

 Join the Bruins Benders Podcast as they cover the HOTTEST topics in the Boston Bruins market, along with…- What does Don Sweeney's ideal draft pick look like?- Would Wyatt Johnston develop into this type of player if he were drafted by Boston?- Hypothetical Trade Swayman for Hellebuyck? Would you do it?- Jim Montgomery with another team collapse. Trend?& Much More!Bruins Benders Premium Hoodies $55https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/get-bent-premium-hoodieBruins Benders Long Sleeve Tee $40https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-long-sleeve-tee-1Bruins Benders Tee $30https://shop.insidetherink.com/products/bruins-benders-t-shirt-1For more from us, visit: insidetherink.com/bruins-bendersBoston Bruins Trade Rumors, Boston Bruins News, Boston Bruins, Jeremy Swayman, Joonas Korpisalo, Charlie McAvoy, Brandon Carlo, Nikita Zadorov, Hampus Lindholm, Mason Lohrei, Andrew Peeke, Parker Wotherspoon, Johnny Beecher, Mark Kastelic, Justin Brazeau, Cole Koepke, Trent Frederic, Matthew Poitras, Charlie Coyle, Pavel Zacha, Morgan Geekie, Brad Marchand, David Pastrnak, Elias Lindholm, Oliver Wahlstrom, Fabian Lysell, Georgii Merkulov, Joe Sacco, Don Sweeney, Cam Neely, Brandon Carlo Trade#nhl #nhlbruins #hockey #bostonbruins #nhlplayoffs #bruins #nhlhockey #nhlmemes #boston #nhlallstar #nhldiscussion #nhlnews #nhledits #nhldraft #bruinsnation #nhlawards #nhltrade #hockeylife #tdgarden #nhlhighlights #bostonsports #bruinshockey #bruinsfan #nhlblackhawks #nhlglobalseries #nhlfi #nhlleafs #nhltrades #nhltradedeadline #nhlcanadiens #nhl #nhlnews #hockey #nhlhockey #nhlplayoffs #nhledits #nhldiscussion #nhlmemes #nhldraft #nhlallstar #hockeylife #hockeynews #hockeymemes #nhlhighlights #icehockey #sports #hockeyislife #nhlbruins #hockeyplayers #hockeyfan #hockeyplayer #hockeyedits #stanleycup #nhlawards #hockeygame #hockeyboys #hockeygram #hockeyfights #nhltrade #nhltrades 
  1. Season 4. Episode 31. The Draft Lottery
  2. Season 4. Episode 30. The Bruins Are Watching The Playoffs
  3. Season 4. Episode 29. The Offseason Begins.
  4. Season 4. Episode 28. A Major Announcement
  5. Season 4. Episode 27. Losing, It's Called Bruins.

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