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It's an early affair in Washington today as the 13-10-5 Anaheim Ducks finish off their 5 game road trip against a 15-7-3 Capitals team that has won seven straight games and leads the Metro Division. It marks the longest winning streak for Todd Reirden’s club since a nine-game streak ending back on January 15th, 2017.

Since the streak began on November 16th the Caps have scored 30 goals and allowed only 14 and have been getting contributions from all over the squad. With Evgeny Kuznetsov returning from a 6 game injury it bodes well for the Capitals in continuing to stock up well-needed points in the tough Metro Division.

Nicklas Backstrom had a four-point game vs New Jersey on Friday and now has 7 points in his last two games and leads Washington in scoring with 32 points. The Swedish born center also tied Mike Ridley for 4th all-time scoring with 218 career goals in the game with a hattrick.

Is this the best Nicklas Backstrom has played? Todd Reirden said this is the best he’s seen him. https://t.co/fEigUzt9tB

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 1, 2018

Alex Ovechkin leads with 19 goals and Tom Wilson has been a force scoring in 5 straight games and now has 7 goals and 13 points in 9 games since his return to the lineup. Wilson was ejected in the game against New Jersey but will dress today as no further discipline was given by the NHL.

No Lineup changes today.

Holtby starting vs. Ducks. No other lineup changes.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) December 2, 2018

Braden Holtby continues to play like a Vezina trophy winner and it’s been a fun ride. Holtbeast has gone 6-2-0 with a 1.70 goals-against average and .950 save percentage since November 7. He is 10-5-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .917 SV% in 18 appearances overall this season.

Anaheim, like Washington, has dealt with injuries throughout the season and have played better recently with a 6-2-2 record over their last ten games and come into the matchup against the Caps on a three-game winning streak and winners of five of their last six.

The Ducks haven’t scored much this year but are getting points through community scoring. Ryan Getzlaff leads the team with only 19 points and is tied for the team lead in goals with Pontus Aberg (7). They continue to be without star forward Corey Perry who had surgery in September for his right knee and is on LTIR.

Caps will head out on a three-game road trip after the game starting in Vegas on Tuesday night at 10 PM EST. Get your coffees out!

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