Capitals at Rangers preview

CAPITALS (12-7-3) at RANGERS (12-9-2)
2 p.m. ET; NHLN, MSG, NBCSWA, NHL.TV

The Capitals have won four in a row without forwards Evgeny Kuznetsov and T.J. Oshie, each expected to miss his fifth straight game with an upper-body injury.
Pheonix Copley is expected to start in net for Washington after Braden Holtby made 31 saves in a 3-1 win against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday. Henrik Lundqvist, who made 42 saves in a 4-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday, could start for the Rangers.

Players to watch

Capitals forward Tom Wilson has eight points (three goals, five assists) in six games this season, including seven (two goals, five assists) in the past four. He was suspended the first 16 games for an illegal check on St. Louis Blues forward Oskar Sundqvist in a Sept. 30 preseason game.

Rangers forward Chris Kreider has nine points (five goals, four assists) in the past seven games.

They said it

"He's just so valuable to us in terms of what he can do offensively. He's in on the forecheck. He changes the momentum of games by bringing the energy that he does. Talk about leaders in the room, and he's one of them. Can't put a value on how important it is having him back." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden on forward Tom Wilson
"We gave up more odd-man rushes it felt [Friday] than we have over the last 10 days and the last four, five games combined. I think that's a reflection of our mindset more than anything. Maybe we were feeling a little bit too good about ourselves and trying things that we probably shouldn't be trying." -- Rangers coach David Quinn after the loss to the Flyers

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Lars Eller -- Brett Connolly
Andre Burakovsky -- Travis Boyd -- Devante Smith-Pelly
Dmitrij Jaskin -- Nic Dowd -- Chandler Stephenson
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Michal Kempny -- John Carlson
Christian Djoos -- Madison Bowey
Pheonix Copley
Braden Holtby
Scratched: Jonas Siegenthaler
Injured: Evgeny Kuznetsov (upper body), T.J. Oshie (upper body), Brooks Orpik (lower body)

Rangers projected lineup

Vladislav Namestnikov -- Mika Zibanejad -- Jesper Fast
Chris Kreider -- Kevin Hayes -- Filip Chytil
Jimmy Vesey -- Brett Howden -- Ryan Strome
Mats Zuccarello -- Lias Andersson -- Steven Fogarty
Marc Staal -- Neal Pionk
Fredrik Claesson-- Kevin Shattenkirk
Brady Skjei -- Tony DeAngelo
Henrik Lundqvist
Alexandar Georgiev
Scratched: Brendan Smith, Tim Gettinger
Injured: Adam McQuaid (lower body), Pavel Buchnevich (broken thumb), Cody McLeod (fractured left hand)

Status report

Smith could return to the Rangers lineup after being scratched the past two games. ... Gettinger was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League after the game against the Flyers on Friday.

Stat pack

Ovechkin has scored four goals during Washington's winning streak. ... The Rangers have outscored the opposition 26-10 during their seven-game home winning streak.