CAPITALS (33-20-7) at MAPLE LEAFS (36-19-4) 7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, TVAS, TSN4, NBCSWA, NHL.TV
The center sustained a concussion on a hit by St. Louis Blues defenseman Vince Dunn in the first period of a 3-2 overtime loss Tuesday. Coach Mike Babcock had no update other than to say Kadri would not play. Goalie Frederik Andersen is expected to start for the Maple Leafs, who have lost two straight (0-1-1) after going 6-1-0 in their previous seven games. Toronto is in third place in the Central Division, four points behind the Boston Bruins. Goalie Braden Holtby is expected to start for the Capitals, who are 5-2-1 in their past eight games and are in second place in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the New York Islanders.
Players to watch
Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has five points (four goals, one assist) in a three-game goal/point streak and 17 points (nine goals, eight assists) in his past 11 games. He leads the NHL with 42 goals. Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews has seven points (four goals, three assists) in his past four games.
They said it
"Just staying focused. It can be easy to drift into a lull, go through the motions. The challenge for us especially coming off a win is to keep pressing forward. I'm sure everyone is anxious to get home, but we've still got a couple games here that we have to stay focused and hungry for." -- Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen on playing the fifth game of a six-game road trip "Playing in the middle you have to play 200 feet. You have to play without the puck. It's way easier to be a winger; that's why when you come to the NHL they stick you on the wall the first couple years and learn how to play a little bit." -- Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock on the challenge for William Nylander playing center without Kadri in the lineup
The Capitals acquired forward Carl Hagelin in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for a third-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2020 NHL Draft on Thursday. Hagelin will not play against the Maple Leafs. … Forward Devante Smith-Pelly cleared waivers and will be assigned by Washington to Hershey of the American Hockey League.
Stat pack
Carlson has five points (one goal, four assists) in a three-game point streak. … Marleau will play his 1,635th NHL game and tie Scott Stevens for eighth place on the League's all-time list.
