It all comes down to tonight. Despite different records, the Washington Capitals (32-13-5) and the Pittsburgh Penguins (33-15-3) each come into this game with 69 points.
In the eighth and final meeting of the regular season between these two rivals, the winner will take first place in the MassMutual East Division putting themselves in the driver’s seat with just over a week left until the playoffs.
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The Caps are 2-1-4 against the Penguins this season, dropping another overtime contest to them on Thursday night. Nicklas Backstrom leads the Caps with eight points with three goals and five assists against the Pens. Tom Wilson leads the Caps with four goals including the tying goal that forced overtime and punched Washington’s ticket to the playoffs.
The Caps have earned points in each of the three previous home games against the Penguins with a 1-0-2 record and have outscored Pittsburgh 11-10. It is the seventh consecutive year the Caps have made the playoffs including 13 of the last 14 years. The Pens have the longest streak with 15 straight seasons.
The Caps have six games remaining after tonight compared to five for Pittsburgh. The East Divison will still have time to be decided. The Penguins have won five of the seven games in the season series but the Caps were able to earn at least a point in six of the seven games.
It was an Isles-heavy week of top plays, presented by @Wawa!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/bBdhwZ5QyY
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 30, 2021
The Caps had an optional practice on Friday. Alex Ovechkin and John Carlson were on the ice. As of this writing, it is unknown what their status of the game will be as each are day to day with lower body injuries.
The Caps will see the New York Rangers for two games at Madison Square Garden, the Philadelphia Flyers for two games at home before the season finale at Capital One Arena against the Boston Bruins.
Can the Caps get revenge against the Pens and take over first place in the MassMutual East Division? Here’s how to find out:
Date: May 1, 2021
Time: 7 p.m.
Where: Capital One Arena
TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Washington
Radio: Caps Radio 24/7
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