Jets at Capitals preview

JETS (40-23-4) AT CAPITALS (40-21-7)
7 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SN, NBCSWA, NHL.TV

A seven-game winning streak would match Washington's longest this season. The Capitals have outscored opponents 26-13 during the streak.
Washington can move four points ahead of the New York Islanders for first place in the Metropolitan Division.
Winnipeg is 3-1-0 in its past four games after going 1-4-1 in its previous six. The Jets have scored at least five goals in three of their past four games.
The Jets can move three points ahead of the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division.

Players to watch

Jets forward Blake Wheeler has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in an eight-game point streak.
Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin has 13 points (eight goals, five assists) in his past 11 games. He needs one point to become the 49th player in NHL history to record 1,200.

They said it

"They've got lots of experience in how to play tight games and certainly a skill level on how to find your weaknesses and find your open ice, and they're patient with it. They have lots of confidence in their offensive game." -- Jets coach Paul Maurice on the Capitals
"I think they [have] balanced scoring, size, speed, [they're] well coached. … And then their goaltender has been outstanding for them. So, it's going to be a challenge tonight for sure." -- Capitals coach Todd Reirden on the Jets

Jets projected lineup

Patrik Laine -- Mark Scheifele -- Blake Wheeler
Kyle Connor -- Kevin Hayes -- Nikolaj Ehlers
Brandon Tanev -- Adam Lowry -- Bryan Little
Mathieu Perreault -- Andrew Copp -- Jack Roslovic
Nathan Beaulieu -- Jacob Trouba
Dmitry Kulikov -- Tyler Myers
Ben Chiarot -- Sami Niku
Connor Hellebuyck
Laurent Brossoit
Scratched:Bogdan Kiselevich, Matt Hendricks, Par Lindholm
Injured: Dustin Byfuglien (lower body), Joe Morrow (lower body), Josh Morrissey (upper body)

Capitals projected lineup

Alex Ovechkin -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana -- Nicklas Backstrom -- T.J. Oshie
Carl Hagelin -- Lars Eller -- Brett Connolly
Andre Burakovsky -- Nic Dowd -- Travis Boyd
Michal Kempny -- John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov -- Matt Niskanen
Brooks Orpik -- Nick Jensen
Pheonix Copley
Braden Holtby
Scratched:Dmitrij Jaskin, Chandler Stephenson, Christian Djoos
Injured: None

Status report

The Jets held an optional morning skate. … Morrow participated in a non-contact jersey. … Copley makes his first start in six games.

Stat pack

Hellebuyck will play his 200th NHL game. … Laine has nine points (four goals, five assists) in his past eight games. … Ovechkin is three goals from tying Brendan Shanahan (656) for 13th place on the NHL list, and one power-play goal from tying Phil Esposito (246) for fifth place all-time. … Carlson is one assist from becoming the third defenseman in Washington history with consecutive 50-assist seasons (Scott Stevens 1986-89 and Larry Murphy 1986-88).