After Tuesday night's 2-0 shutout win on the road against the New York Islanders, the Ottawa Senators remain one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second Wild Cars spot in the Eastern Conference. Now, the Senators return home to play a team for the this season, the Washington Capitals.
The Capitals are one of the top teams in the NHL, but with the Senators riding a three-game winning streak, it's a good test to see how the Senators can fare against the top teams in the NHL
Senators play Capitals for first time in 2024-25
The Senators host the Capitals at Canadian Tire Centre with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
Tuesday night saw Leevi Merilainen extend his hot play in goal. The 22-year-old has won his last three starts with recording his second shutout in the three-game span. With his shutout, Merilainen improved to 5-2-0 with a 1.99 goals against average and .925 save percentage on the season.
Adam Gaudette's tip-in goal in the second period would be the game-winning goal. It was Gaudette's 14th of the season to snap a 15-game goal drought. Artem Zub's empty-net goal was the dagger and his first goal of the season.
As for the Capitals, they come into tonight's game in first place in the Metropolitan Division with a 29-10-5 record. The Capitals have won three of their last four games with the most recent being a 3-0 shutout win on Tuesday night against the Anaheim Ducks.
To no surprise, Alex Ovechkin is at it again with leading the Capitals with 20 goals. Ovechkin currently needs 22 goals to break Wayne Gretzky's goal record.
Dylan Strome leads the Capitals with 34 assists and 46 points. Ex-Senator Jakob Chychrun has been a big offensive boost this season with 30 points. The Capitals' dynamic duo in goal of Logan Thompson and Charlie Lindgren have a combined 2.52 goals against average and .912 save percentage.
Last season against the Capitals, the Senators won two of the three meetings.