Carolina Hurricanes (28-36-11) at Washington Capitals (41-25-10), 7 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Ovechkin hopes to add another 50-goal season to his resume when his Washington Capitals welcome the Carolina Hurricanes for Tuesday's clash at Verizon Center.
Ovechkin scored twice Sunday in a 5-2 road victory over the New York Rangers, bringing his league-leading goal total to 49. Another goal would give the winger his sixth season of 50 goals or more.
The 29-year-old Russian superstar also is closing in on his fifth Rocket Richard Trophy. Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos and Rick Nash of the Rangers are tied for second with 40 tallies.
Sunday's win was Washington's fifth in seven outings and helped bolster the club's playoff hopes. Jason Chimera also scored twice in the victory, as he tallied two straight goals to begin the third period and stake the Caps to a 4-2 advantage. Marcus Johansson added an empty-netter with 2:23 left to secure the victory.
"We wanted to get some points, some momentum," said Chimera. "We do a good job coming into this building and winning."
With 92 points, Washington holds a three-point edge over Boston for the first of two wild card spots in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins host Florida on Tuesday.
The Caps also sit three points in back of the New York Islanders and Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Neither the Isles or Pens or in action tonight, giving Washington a chance to gain some ground.
Braden Holtby made 23 saves for the Capitals, as he bounced back from Saturday's 4-3 loss in Nashville. Holtby was pulled late in the first period on Saturday after giving up three goals on 13 shots.
Holtby is 6-4-0 with a 2.09 goals against average in 10 career games versus the Hurricanes.
Carolina will miss the playoffs for a sixth straight season, but the club has gained at least a point from four its last five contests, going 2-1-2 during the stretch.
However, the 'Canes had a two-game win streak halted Sunday with a 2-1 overtime loss against Boston in the finale of a five-game homestand.
Nathan Gerbe scored Carolina's lone goal with 22 seconds left in the second period to make it a 1-1 game. The score stayed that way until David Pastrnak won it for the Bruins with 37 seconds left in overtime.
Anton Khudobin finished with 28 stops in the loss.
"I thought we matched their intensity today, if not exceeded it at times," said Carolina head coach Bill Peters.
The Hurricanes are beginning a two-game trip tonight and will visit Florida on Thursday. Carolina is 17-15-7 as the visiting club this season.
Washington had won three straight in this series before the Hurricanes notched a 3-0 home win on Feb. 27. The Caps, meanwhile, snapped a three-game home skid versus Carolina with a 4-3 OT win on Nov. 8.