Ovechkin's numbers against the Canadiens speak for themselves with 55 points (33 goals, 22 assists) in 50 games.
The Capitals didn't practice on Tuesday, so we should learn more about the status of winger T.J. Oshie at the morning skate.
Oshie, who just returned from a 10-game absence, suffered another lower-body injury in San Jose and didn't play in Seattle.
Laviolette is also without big guns Nicklas Backstrom (left hip injury) and Anthony Mantha (shoulder injury) for an extended period of time.
Along with Ovechkin, the Habs must pay extra close attention to the likes of forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov (22 points) and Tom Wilson (16 points), and defenseman John Carlson (16 points), who are all clicking offensively.
This is the first of three encounters between Montreal and Washington this season.
It's the Canadiens' lone visit to the District of Columbia.
Broadcast information
Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet One, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario and RDS, and listen to all the action on TSN 690 and 98,5 fm.