Washington Capitals (47-15-8) at Winnipeg Jets (1-7-2, 4 pts)
Venue: Canada Life Centre
Date: Tonight – Tuesday, March 25th
Time: 7:00 pm CST
TV: TSN3
Radio: 680 CJOB
DraftKings Sportsbook Betting Lines:
Washington Capitals+1.5 ML -205
Winnipeg Jets -1.5 ML +180
O/U 5.5
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Washington Capitals News & Notes:
The Washington Capitals became the first team to clinch a postseason berth in the 2024-25 season. They currently stand atop the NHL with a 47-15-8 record and have one of the hottest storylines following them this season with Alex Ovechkin’s goal-scoring chase.
Ovechkin currently sits seven goals back from breaking the record, but there’s more than the Capitals and Ovechkin scoring, its their overall team play which has propelled them to their current spot.
The Capitals have been on a tear in their last 10 games, going 9-1-0 with a four-game win streak currently. Both the Jets and Capitals match up in a heavyweight bout that is a first peak at the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Winnipeg Jets News & Notes:
Is 20-20 hindsight with the Winnipeg Jets starting to rear its ugly head? That seems to be the case right now.
After suffering a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday night, the Jets look to get back to their winning ways with a potential playoff-clinching win at stake.
The Jets are without second-pairing defender Neal Pionk as he’s been out since March 11th with a lower-body injury. Pionk was listed as week-to-week and has not resumed skating with the team since the injury.
Another injury blow hit the Jets as Gabriel Vilardi suffered a ‘freak’ injury according to head coach Scott Arniel. Vilardi was officially listed as week-to-week per the Winnipeg Jets, but reporters, including TSN’s John Lu, have mentioned that Vilardi’s season is over and his return for playoffs is unlikely.
Washington Capitals Projected Lines
Alex Ovechkin – Dylan Strome – Aliaksei Protas
Connor McMichael – Pierre-Luc Dubois – Tom Wilson
Andrew Mangiapane – Lars Eller – Taylor Raddysh
Brandon Duhaime – Nic Dowd – Anthony Beauvillier
Rasmus Sandin – John Carlson
Jakob Chychrun – Trevor Van Reimsdyk
Martin Fehervary – Matt Roy
Logan Thompson
Charlie Lindgren
Winnipeg Jets Projected Lines
Kyle Connor – Mark Scheifele – Alex Iafallo
Nikolaj Ehlers – Adam Lowry – Mason Appleton
Nino Niederreiter – Vladislav Namestnikov – Cole Perfetti
Brandon Tanev – Morgan Barron – David Gustafsson
Josh Morrissey – Dylan DeMelo
Dylan Samberg – Luke Schenn
Logan Stanley – Colin Miller
Connor Hellebuyck
Eric Comrie
Players To Watch:
Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin remains in hot pursuit of the goal-scoring record and he will be looking to net as many goals as he can against Winnipeg to inch him closer to the record.
Aliaksei Protas burst onto the scene this season after a 15-point (4G, 11A) season in 2022-23, a 29-point (6G, 23A) season in 2023-24 and now a 63-point (29G, 34A) season and counting. The 6-foot-6 Belarusian centre has been a force for the Capitals this season and his scoring ways follow him everywhere he goes.
Winnipeg Jets
Nikolaj Ehlers has had a couple of season-defining moments so far, but he will continue to push ahead as the post-season approaches and his contract status is up in the air.
Luke Schenn will continue to look and make a big impact on his latest NHL team. The veteran defender has been physical since his acquisition and tonight’s game against Washington could be another big game for him.
Injury Report:
Washington Capitals
D Jakob Chychrun – IR – Wrist (eligible to return tonight against WPG)
LW Sonny Milano – LTIR – UBI
C Nicklas Backstrom – LTIR – Hip
RW T.J. Oshie – LTIR – Back
Winnipeg Jets
RW Gabriel Vilardi – IR – UBI, Week-to-Week
D Neal Pionk – IR – LBI, Week-to-Week
Next game
Washington Capitals – March 27th at Minnesota
Winnipeg Jets – March 28th vs New Jersey
ITR 31: Let Them Fight – Inside The Rink
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