Capitals at Bruins preview

CAPITALS (6-6-1) at BRUINS (5-3-3)
7 p.m. ET; NHLN, NESN, NBCSWA, NHL.TV

The Bruins are 3-0-3 in their past six games. However, the Capitals have won their past nine games against Boston, which last defeated Washington on March 29, 2014.
The Capitals have won two of their past three games after opening the season 4-5-1.

Players to watch

Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, who's expected to start, has held opponents to three goals or fewer in seven of his past eight starts (5-3-0, 20 goals allowed). He's 11-2-0 with a 1.80 goals-against average and .945 save percentage in his career against Boston.
Bruins forward David Pastrnak has three assists in his past four games after having seven points (five goals, two assists) in his previous five games.

They said it

"We've kind of been talking about it the past week or 10 days, just getting off to a better start. Not even necessarily scoring first but just kind of getting to our game first and trying to establish something early." -- Capitals defenseman Taylor Chorney
"It was frustrating that all three of our games that went to overtime or shootout we didn't get the win. But if you're in enough of those they'll go your way. ... The Buffalo one [when the Bruins lost a three-goal lead in a 5-4 overtime loss on Oct. 21] I think was self-inflicted. We talked about that, that's one we needed to correct quickly how we play with a lead. And I think we've done a better job of that."-- Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Jakub Vrana -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie
Chandler Stephenson -- Lars Eller -- Tom Wilson
Liam O'Brien -- Jay Beagle -- Alex Chiasson
Christian Djoos -- John Carlson
Brooks Orpik -- Madison Bowey
Dmitry Orlov -- Taylor Chorney
Braden Holtby
Philipp Grubauer
Scratched:Nathan Walker, Aaron Ness
Injured: Brett Connolly (upper body), Andre Burakovsky (fractured left thumb), Tyler Graovac (upper body), Matt Niskanen (upper body)

Bruins projected lineup

Brad Marchand -- Patrice Bergeron -- David Pastrnak
Jake DeBrusk -- Riley Nash -- Tim Schaller
Danton Heinen -- Jordan Szwarz -- Anders Bjork
Matt Beleskey -- Sean Kuraly -- Austin Czarnik
Zdeno Chara -- Charlie McAvoy
Torey Krug -- Brandon Carlo
Paul Postma -- Kevan Miller
Tuukka Rask
Zane McIntyre
Scratched: Frank Vatrano
Injured:Noel Acciari (finger), Ryan Spooner (groin), Adam McQuaid (leg), David Krejci (upper body), Anton Khudobin (lower body), David Backes (diverticulitis)

Status report

Trotz wouldn't confirm his lineup, but based on the morning skate O'Brien will make his season debut. ... Marchand didn't practice Friday but said he will play, so the Bruins are expected to dress the same lineup they used in their 2-1 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

Stat pack

Backstrom has 35 points (six goals, 29 assists) in 31 career games against Boston. He has one assist in his past six games after having 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in his previous five.