ARLINGTON, Va. -- Goal-scoring droughts of any kind are unfamiliar to Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin.

The 28-year-old remains comfortably atop the NHL goal-scoring leaderboard with 46, but it has been a while since he padded that total 5-on-5.

Since returning from the 2014 Sochi Olympics Ovechkin has scored one even-strength goal: The game-winner in Washington's 5-4 victory against the Florida Panthers on Feb. 27.

Ovechkin has gone the past 12 games without a goal at even strength. If he does not score one against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, he will match his career-long drought of 13 set during his rookie season of 2005-06, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

WASHINGTON -- Scoring at even strength has not been one of the Washington Capitals' strong suits this season.

In 68 games, the Capitals have scored 117 goals 5-on-5, 19th in the NHL, and their top six has done little to boost those numbers as of late.

Since returning from the League's two-week break for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Washington's top-six forwards, recently consisting of Brooks Laich, Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Ovechkin, Dustin Penner, Marcus Johansson and Troy Brouwer, have scored five 5-on-5 goals among them in nine games.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- The Washington Capitals are winless in five of their past six games (1-4-1) and struggling in several key areas at a time when they can't afford to do so.

One area of particular concern is the faceoff circle, where the Capitals have won 133 of 333 draws (39.9 percent) during their recent skid, well below their 48.9 percent season average.

Beginning Friday against the Vancouver Canucks, seven of Washington's next nine games are against teams ranked among the top 10 in faceoff percentage in the NHL, including five against the top five.

"I've been struggling the last couple games in the faceoff circle," said center Nicklas Backstrom, who has won about 47 of his faceoffs over his past six games. "You want to be better at it because it helps get puck possession right away."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov will make his highly anticipated NHL debut Monday against the Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET, NHLN-US).

The 21-year-old, Washington's first-round pick (No. 26) in the 2010 NHL Draft, will start on the fourth line with center Jay Beagle and right wing Tom Wilson.

Though the idea of slotting Kuznetsov in alongside center Nicklas Backstrom and right wing Alex Ovechkin certainly is tantalizing, coach Adam Oates said he wants to manage Kuznetsov's minutes as he acclimates himself to the NHL.

"I think it makes sense to start him on that line no matter what quite honestly, in fairness to the other guys," Oates said. "Obviously everybody's excited to see him, but for the team he's got to earn his stripes.

"I think starting him there and let him ease into the team and the system and not put him in a situation where he might make a mistake right off the hop and get off on the wrong foot, I think it makes sense to do it that way."

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals trudged listlessly through the start of consecutive losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and Boston Bruins earlier this week.

In their 6-4 loss to the Flyers on Wednesday, the Capitals registered a season-low eight shots through two periods, a total they matched the following evening in a 3-0 loss to the Bruins before finishing with a season-low 16.

The Capitals, who have been held to five or fewer shots in five of their past seven periods of regulation, pinpointed neutral-zone play as the source of their recent offensive frustration.

Against the Bruins in particular, the Capitals' poorly placed dump-ins allowed Boston goaltender Tuukka Rask to quickly reverse the flow before they could establish any sort of forecheck.

In preparation for the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday, Washington placed added emphasis on execution between the blue lines.

"It was the first thing in our meeting today," coach Adam Oates said. "Our neutral zone has to be better in terms of getting through their wave so we can put the puck in the right spot where we can actually forecheck, and if we don't, what's our fallout plan."

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers begin a home-and-home series Sunday at Verizon Center that will have sizable Metropolitan Division implications.

The Capitals, winners of four straight, trail the Flyers by one point and could overtake them for third place in the division with a regulation victory. Washington has not held that position since Jan. 16.

Though the two-game set holds significant importance for both teams' postseason aspirations, the Capitals are focusing on what lies in front of them Sunday.

"Obviously it's an important game, but if we win, great, and then we've got to play them again [Wednesday]," coach Adam Oates said. "Right now, we're still, I think, in the process of playing every game as it is. Today, we play Philly. Let's worry about Philly today."

ARLINGTON, Va. – Throughout his NHL career, Washington Capitals goaltender Michal Neuvirth has seemingly been a victim of circumstance.

Over the past three seasons, the 25-year-old has received opportunities to stake his claim to the starting position, only for an unforeseen incident to derail him.

The latest such incident came Thursday when Neuvirth was scheduled to make his fourth straight start against the Winnipeg Jets, his longest streak since starting five straight between Jan. 24-31, 2013. But he fell ill before the game and in his place Braden Holtby made 34 saves in Washington's 4-2 victory.

As a result, Holtby will start on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils. And with that, Neuvirth, who has started 53 games since the start of the 2011-12 season after starting 45 in 2010-11, seems to be back to square one.

"That's hockey," Neuvirth said. "People get hurt, people get sick and I really wanted to play, but I didn't feel good and I felt like I couldn't give my team 100 percent effort."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Youth and inexperience have been served on the Washington Capitals' blue line.

Ahead of their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, the Capitals recalled defensemen Julien Brouillette and Patrick Wey from the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League.

Brouillette, who will make his NHL debut (the fourth Capitals defenseman to do so this season), and Wey, who made his on Dec. 7, will form Washington's third pairing with a combined one game of experience in the League.

"[The recall] was definitely special," said Brouillette, who has nine goals and 14 points in 29 games with Hershey this season. "Offensively has been good this year for me. Hopefully I can bring that, but more importantly, just more steady defense. You know what you get out of me every night, and hopefully same thing [Thursday]."

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Within the confines of the Metropolitan Division space is at a premium.

Just four points separate second place from seventh place and the Washington Capitals, currently in sixth place, have not done themselves any favors recently.

The Capitals are winless in six straight intra-divisional games (0-5-1), their longest such streak since November 2007 when they failed to earn a win in seven straight games (0-6-1) against Southeast Division opponents.

Washington's next opportunity to earn its first Metropolitan Division victory since Dec. 27 comes Tuesday against the New York Islanders (7:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, TSN2) who, despite entering the game in last place in the division and on a five-game winless streak, are by no means out of the Stanley Cup Playoff race in the Eastern Conference.

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Capitals will be without the services of both defenseman Mike Green (concussion) and forward Brooks Laich (groin) against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday.

Green, who has a history of head injuries, awkwardly absorbed a check from Columbus Blue Jacketsforward Boone Jenner during the first period of Washington's 5-2 loss Thursday. As the two raced for a puck in the Washington zone, Jenner beat Green to the inside, putting the defenseman in a precarious position as he was driven into the boards.