It started with a trade between the Bruins and Capitals (and Wild as a third-party broker). The Capitals moved out two pending free agents, Garnet Hathaway and Dmitry Orlov, in exchange for a 2023 first-rounder, 2024 third, 2025 second and Craig Smith.

The Washington Capitals are back home for one more game before. a lengthy road trip, and it's a big one as they face off against the rival Pittsburgh Penguins. Here's everything to know before puck drop at 7 p.

The Pittsburgh Penguins (19-20-8) remain below .500 after leaving a smoldering crater where a five-game homestand was supposed to be. However, the Penguins clicked with A-level goaltending Friday night against the Buffalo Sabres and got back on the winning track.

THROUGH GAMES OF SATURDAY, JAN. 18, 2025

The Washington Capitals sit atop the NHL, and they've more than established that they're a legitimate contender after barely sneaking into the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. Now, per reports, they could add some pieces to gear up for a longer run.

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The Ottawa Senators return home with a tall order as they take on the best team in the East and League — the Washington Capitals. Washington leads the league with a 0.716 save percentage at 63 points in 44 games.

The Capitals will look to keep trending in the right direction against Ottawa, as Jakob Chychrun makes his return for the first time since being traded.

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The Capitals are shaking things up on the top-6, with Pierre-Luc Dubois replacing Dylan Strome as Alex Ovechkin's center. Connor McMichael and Tom Wilson will play between Strome, while Aliaksei Protas moves to that top line.

Despite missing 16 games with a fractured fibula, Alex Ovechkin has been on a torrid scoring pace and is now just 22 goals away from passing Wayne Gretzky for the all-time goalscoring title. Ovechkin scored his first-ever NHL hat trick against the Ducks in 2006 and has 12 goals in 25 career games against them.

In goal, Logan Thompson and Hunter Shepard worked in both nets, with Charlie Lindgren not skating as he recovers from an upper-body injury he suffered in Friday's loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Lindgren remains on the IR, but Carbery said he’s progressing well and they will see if he can be activated Saturday.