ARLINGTON, Va. -- Having followed a 14-1-4 run with a 1-4-2 slump, the Washington Capitals adjusted their forward lines for their game Tuesday against the Los Angeles Kings.

Most notably, Marcus Johansson, who has started every game this season as the second-line left wing, will shift to the right side on the Capitals' first line with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom.

Johansson was Ovechkin and Backstrom's primary linemate the past two seasons, albeit at left wing. He will be the eighth different wing to start beside those two this season.

"I think they're both stars in the game and they don't need to be stroked or to have everything their way," coach Barry Trotz said of Ovechkin and Backstrom. "I think they're both different people and it's probably not perfect for them, but [Ovechkin] does not complain about who he's playing with or why or anything. He wants to play. The same with [Backstrom]. They say, 'Whoever you put there, we'll make it work.'"

WASHINGTON -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby will return from a lower-body injury and be in the lineup against the Washington Capitals at Verizon Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, SN1).

Crosby missed the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game and Pittsburgh's 5-3 victory against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. He sustained the injury Jan. 10 against the Montreal Canadiens, but played through it until taking an injection last week.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby is expected to be a game-time decision against the Washington Capitals on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVA Sports, SN1).

Crosby, who missed the 2015 Honda NHL All-Star Game because of a lower-body injury, did not play in Pittsburgh's 5-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday. He skated Wednesday morning at Verizon Center and coach Mike Johnston will address his status prior to the game.

Crosby's return would further boost a Pittsburgh lineup that recently has been overwhelmed by injuries.

Against the Jets, forward Patric Hornqvist and defenseman Kris Letang returned from lower-body and head injuries, respectively. The length of forward Evgeni Malkin's recovery from a lower-body injury is undetermined, Johnston said Monday.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Trailing 3-0 to the Dallas Stars on Saturday, the Washington Capitals were forced to loosen their structure, ultimately losing 5-4 in a freewheeling offensive game.

It was the Stars' ninth game this season in which they and their opponent each scored at least four goals, the most in the NHL. It was also familiar to Washington, which led the League with 13 such games last season and 42 total between 2009-10 and 2013-14.

"We know what that's like," defenseman Karl Alzner said. "We used to be that team."

The Capitals, though, have become a better two-way team capable of winning low-scoring games, which in a way has affected how they approach high-scoring games.

"This team has had more than enough practice over a few years in playing high-scoring games that they know how to play them," forward Troy Brouwer said. "It's our ability to play those tight, low-scoring games that has been winning us games."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Washington Capitals have employed a wing-by-committee approach on their first line under coach Barry Trotz.

When in need of physicality, Tom Wilson plays right wing with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Trotz has turned to Jay Beagle on the right side to provide two-way responsibility. In four games between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1 Trotz used four different first-line wings: Eric Fehr, Wilson, Jason Chimera (played on the left side and Ovechkin moved to right wing) and Beagle.

Lately Andre Burakovsky has assumed right wing alongside Ovechkin and Backstrom. Against the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday they will play together for the sixth straight game.

"He makes plays," Trotz said of Burakovsky. "He's pretty creative. Definitely he's done a pretty good job. His wall play has gotten better as the whole year's gone on. He's been pretty creative. He can make those high-skill plays like [Backstrom] can; maybe not to that extent yet, but the high-skill plays that he can make to [Backstrom or Ovechkin], so far so good. He skates very well for a young man."

ARLINGTON, Va. – Washington Capitals defenseman Nate Schmidt sustained a scapular fracture Sunday and will miss 6-8 weeks.

"It's very unfortunate," said defenseman Mike Green, Schmidt's most frequent defensive partner. "He's such a good young player and I've enjoyed playing with him over the course of the start of the season and a little bit last year. It's really unfortunate to be honest with you. I feel for him. I really do."

Schmidt, who appeared in each of Washington's first 31 games, was a healthy scratch in seven of the next nine games prior to being assigned to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League on Saturday to receive playing time. He scored two power-play goals that night against the Norfolk Admirals.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Washington Capitals have earned points in 15 of their past 16 games and their 11-1-4 record since Dec. 4 is the best in the NHL.

Despite such success, the Capitals are still fourth in the Metropolitan Division entering their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

After Washington's 3-2 overtime loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, coach Barry Trotz scoffed at the notion the Capitals have not gained any ground in their division. On Dec. 4, the Capitals, then 10-10-4, trailed the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins by 12 points each. Those deficits have since shrunken to five and four, respectively. The New York Rangers, 12-2-0 in their past 14 games, also remain entrenched in the divisional race.

"I don't think we're frustrated by it," defenseman Matt Niskanen said. "By us being just so-so early, that's why it's so important to recognize how important every game is. Early we were just so-so, and it takes this good of a streak just to get back within a couple points. With three-point games every night, I think it's harder to catch teams, so when you fall behind it's harder to make up."

WASHINGTON -- Having scored two goals in the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals forward Eric Fehr joked earlier this week that he would share the goal-scoring glory with his teammates.

He eventually did, but not before opening the scoring Thursday in Washington’s 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic outracing Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook to a bouncing puck before charging up ice and beating goaltender Corey Crawford at 7:01 of the first period.

"Play 82 outside, play all 82 outside and [Fehr] would lead the League," forward Brooks Laich said.

WASHINGTON – Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik will play against the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic after being a game-time decision.

Orpik, 34, injured his right knee Monday against the New York Islanders and did not practice Wednesday at Nationals Park, undergoing treatment at the Capitals’ practice facility instead. He later joined his teammates for Washington’s family skate.

Trotz said Wednesday that there was no structural damage to Orpik’s knee, an encouraging diagnosis considering Orpik had to be helped to the locker room by two teammates following his third-period collision with Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck.

During warm-ups, Orpik skated alongside John Carlson, his regular defensive partner.