Capitals at Penguins preview

CAPITALS (40-20-7) at PENGUINS (39-21-6)
1 p.m. ET; NHLN, SN1, ATTSN-PT, NBCSWA, NHL.TV

The Penguins, who have won two straight following a season-long six-game losing streak, are three points behind the Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers for the division lead. Philadelphia will host the Buffalo Sabres later Saturday.
The Capitals have lost two games in a row (0-1-1) and are 4-7-2 in their past 13 after a 6-5 overtime loss at the New York Rangers on Thursday.
Washington and Pittsburgh have split the first two of four meetings this season. The Penguins won 4-3 at Capital One Arena on Feb. 2 before losing 5-3 there Feb. 23.

Players to watch

Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin is three goals from tying Mike Gartner (708) for seventh place on the NHL all-time list and is tied with Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak for the NHL goal lead (47) after having five points (four goals, one assist) in his past three games.
Penguins center Sidney Crosby has four points (two goals, two assists) in his past two games after being held to one goal in his previous six.

They said it

"In terms of our consistency, shift to shift, it needs to improve. … Disappointed in some areas, that's for sure." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden
"I just think our whole overall game has gotten better. We've scored some goals. That helps our confidence." -- Penguins coach Mike Sullivan

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie
Carl Hagelin -- Lars Eller -- Ilya Kovalchuk
Richard Panik -- Nic Dowd -- Garnet Hathaway
Brenden Dillon -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Jonas Siegenthaler -- Michal Kempny
Ilya Samsonov
Braden Holtby
Scratched:Travis Boyd, Brendan Leipsic, Radko Gudas
Injured:None

Penguins projected lineup

Jason Zucker -- Sidney Crosby -- Conor Sheary
Patrick Marleau -- Evgeni Malkin -- Bryan Rust
Jared McCann -- Nick Bjugstad -- Patric Hornqvist
Brandon Tanev -- Teddy Blueger -- Evan Rodrigues
Brian Dumoulin -- Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson -- John Marino
Jack Johnson -- Justin Schultz
Matt Murray
Tristan Jarry
Scratched: Chad Ruhwedel, Juuso Riikola, Sam Lafferty
Injured: Jake Guentzel (shoulder surgery), Zach Aston-Reese (lower body), Dominik Simon (upper body), Anthony Angello (upper body)

Status report

The Capitals did not practice Friday. … The Penguins have not announced a starting goalie; Murray has started the past two games after alternating with Jarry the previous 11.

Stat pack

Kovalchuk had three points (one goal, two assists) against the Rangers on Thursday. The goal was his first in five games with Washington. … Malkin has six assists in his past two games. … Marleau needs one goal to pass Mike Modano (561) for sole possession of 25th place on the NHL all-time list.