Projected lineup for Capitals vs. Maple Leafs

The Southeast Division-leading Washington Capitals seek a season-high eighth straight win when they play the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night at Verizon Center.

The Maple Leafs have won two straight games and seven of nine to pull within four points of the Northeast Division-leading Montreal Canadiens with six games remaining.

The Capitals have not played since a 6-5 overtime win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday The Maple Leafs are coming off a 2-0 win Monday against the New Jersey Devils.

Here is Washington's projected lineup for Tuesday:

Marcus Johansson – Nicklas Backstrom – Alex Ovechkin

Martin Erat – Mike Ribeiro – Troy Brouwer

Jason Chimera – Mathieu Perreault – Eric Fehr

Aaron Volpatti – Jay Beagle – Matt Hendricks

Karl Alzner – Mike Green

Jack Hillen – John Carlson

John Erskine – Steve Oleksy

Braden Holtby

Michal Neuvirth

Notes: Joel Ward will miss his fourth straight game with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot from Lightning defenseman Sami Salo on April 7. … Brooks Laich will miss his sixth straight game with a lower-body injury. Laich has been limited to just nine games this season.