• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Capitals look to end five-game slide vs. Canadiens

Jan 4, 2007 - 4:16 PM Montreal (23-11-5) at Washington (16-17-7) 7:00 pm EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The Montreal Canadiens already have made a contribution to the recent struggles of the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals try to snap a five-game skid and return to the .500 mark at the halfway point of the season Thursday when they host the Canadiens.

After beginning their skid with a 6-5 defeat to the the Buffalo Sabres on December 26, the Capitals suffered a 4-1 loss to Montreal the following night. Alexander Semin scored Washington's lone goal on a power play.

Reigning Calder Trophy winner Alex Ovechkin ranks among the league leaders in goals (25) and has nine tallies and 24 points in his last 15 contests. However, he does not have a goal in his last four games.

Brian Sutherby scored his second tally of the campaign and Brian Pothier added his first for Washington in Monday's 3-2 defeat to the Phoenix Coyotes.

After splitting a home-and-home series with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal has won seven of its last 10 contests. Tomas Plekanec scored twice and Alexei Kovalev added a pair of assists for the Canadiens in Tuesday's 5-2 triumph over the Lightning.

Canadiens goaltender Cristobal Huet is 4-1-0 with a 1.99 goals-against average lifetime against Washington.