NHL Game Preview: Washington Capitals at Winnipeg Jets with Line Combinations (03/25/2025)

Photo Credit: Conrad Jack (Inside The Rink)

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 43: It's Winning Time Inside The Rink

Join Chris and Conrad as they break down the Chris Kreider trade, the Calder Cup Final, and the Stanley Cup Final drawing to an end.
  1. ITR 43: It's Winning Time
  2. ITR 42: Ripe For Repeat?
  3. ITR 41: Stanley Cup Final – The Rematch
  4. ITR 40: Headed For A Repeat?
  5. ITR 39: Conference Finals

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Conrad Jack

Conrad Jack is a Manitoba based sportswriter covering the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) and the Manitoba Moose (AHL). He also covers the NHL Draft and World Junior Championship for ITR. He writes the Bargain Bin blog which covers NHL News & Rumours.

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