• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Capitals hope to extend point streak versus Thrashers

Jan 26, 2011 - 4:05 PM (Sports Network) - After losing in a shootout their last time out, the Washington Capitals will try to extend their point streak with a win tonight when they visit the reeling Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.

The Capitals are 3-0-2 in their last five games, but are coming off Monday's close loss against the visiting New York Rangers. Washington enters tonight four points behind idle Tampa Bay for the top spot in the Southeast Division.

Atlanta, meanwhile, has lost three straight and has just one win in its last eight games (1-4-3). The Thrashers, who are third in the Southeast and 10 points behind the Lightning, are coming off Sunday's 7-1 blowout loss in Tampa.

Artem Anisimov scored the decisive shootout goal in New York's 2-1 victory over the Capitals on Monday. Washington allowed the Rangers to tie the game at 1-1 on Marian Gaborik's goal with 6:41 left in the third.

After New York goalie Martin Biron turned away rookie Marcus Johansson to begin the fourth round, Anisimov secured the extra point for the Rangers by beating Washington freshman Braden Holtby with a move to the backhand.

Matt Hendricks lit the lamp in the second period for the Capitals, while Holtby stopped 28 shots.

Holtby could get a fourth straight start in net tonight as the club's top two goaltenders -- Michal Neuvirth and Semyon Varlamov -- are both currently dealing with lower-body injuries. Varlamov has been healthy enough to serve as the backup to Holtby in the last three games, while Neuvirth has been scratched in those contests.

Washington is just 11-9-3 as the guest this year, but has won two straight on the road. The Capitals play their first game after this weekend's All-Star break on home ice, as they are set to host Montreal on Tuesday.

Although the Thrashers have lost eight of their last nine games, Atlanta does have the upper hand in this year's season series against Washington. The Thrashers have taken three out of five meetings with the Caps this year and tonight's encounter marks the finale of the season series.

Washington has still taken 10 of its last 13 games against the Thrashers, but the Caps have dropped two straight and six of 11 in Atlanta.

The Thrashers allowed five goals in the second period alone in Sunday's 7-1 defeat in Tampa. The lopsided victory allowed Tampa to complete a six-game season series sweep of Atlanta.

Ondrej Pavelec stopped 14 shots in the first period for Atlanta, but was pulled early in the second after giving up three goals on five shots. Peter Mannino finished the game in net and gave up four goals on 20 shots.

"We didn't play together out there today," said Atlanta head coach Craig Ramsay. "We talked before the game about playing as a team if we want to get back into things. Obviously, it didn't happen today."

Rich Peverley scored the lone goal for Atlanta on Sunday.

In other Thrashers news, defenseman Tobias Enstrom will be sidelined for the next 2-to-4 weeks due to a broken finger on his right hand. The injury will cause Enstrom to miss this weekend's All-Star Game.

Enstrom has already set a career high with eight goals in this his fourth season in the league. The 26-year-old Swede has also recorded 33 assists and was on pace to easily eclipse the personal-best 50 points he totaled last season.

Atlanta's leading scorer, Andrew Ladd, is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury and could miss his second straight game tonight. Ladd has compiled 16 goals and 23 assists in 50 games this season.

Also, Thrashers winger Evander Kane is expected to miss fourth straight game tonight with an undisclosed injury.

Atlanta has lost four straight on home ice and is 11-9-5 as the host this season. The Thrashers are beginning a three-game homestand tonight and will continue the residency against the New York Islanders on Tuesday.