• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Caps aim to build on win streak in clash with Blues

Mar 3, 2011 - 4:47 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals will shoot for their first three- game winning streak in two months when they host the struggling St. Louis Blues tonight at the Verizon Center.

The Capitals recently swept a home-and-home series with the New York Islanders and Washington has won four of its last five contests overall. The club's last three-game winning streak was from Dec. 26-Jan. 1.

After overcoming a two-goal deficit in Saturday's 3-2 win on Long Island, the Capitals recorded an overtime win over a visiting New York club on Tuesday. Alex Ovechkin scored 1:55 into the extra session to lead Washington to a 2-1 decision and another comeback victory.

The Capitals appeared to be on the verge of getting shut out for the 10th time this season until Brooks Laich converted a feed from newcomer Jason Arnott, who was acquired in a trade with New Jersey on Monday, with 47.1 seconds remaining in the third period.

Then, in the extra session, Ovechkin raced down the right wing and shrugged off Islanders forward Frans Nielsen before flicking a backhander past Nathan Lawson.

Washington's Michal Neuvirth made 15 of his 28 saves in the third period. The 22-year-old Czech notched his 20th win, tying Bob Mason for the franchise's single-season rookie record. Mason set the mark during the 1986-87 campaign.

"I thought [Neuvirth] was outstanding to keep us in the game, to give us the ability to win," said Washington head coach Bruce Boudreau.

In addition to Arnott, Dennis Wideman also made his Capitals debut on Tuesday. The defenseman was acquired in a trade with Florida on Monday and he led Washington with 26 minutes, 44 seconds of ice time in the win over the Isles.

The Capitals ended a three-game home losing streak and improved to 18-8-7 in D.C. this season. Next up for Washington is a two-game road trip against Tampa Bay and the Florida Panthers.

Washington enters tonight as the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference and the Caps are also just three points behind Tampa for the Southeast Division lead. The Blues, meanwhile, are seeded 13th in the Western Conference and are nine points out of a playoff spot.

St. Louis has been shut out in each of its last two games, as the Blues were blanked in both legs of a recent home-and-home series against Calgary. The Flames recorded a 1-0 win this past Sunday on home ice and then pounded the Blues, 6-0, in St. Louis on Tuesday.

Miikka Kiprusoff stopped all 25 shots he faced for his sixth shutout of the season in Tuesday's game at Scottrade Center. Kiprusoff had made 27 saves in Sunday's victory at the Saddledome.

Ben Bishop yielded all six goals on 29 shots for the Blues, who have also dropped five of their last six games.

The Blues' No. 1 netminder Jaroslav Halak has missed the last eight games with a right hand injury and the rookie Bishop has assumed the starting role in the last three contests. It's unclear if Bishop or Ty Conklin will get the start tonight.

St. Louis has a 10-15-5 record on the road this season and will complete a two-game swing Saturday afternoon against the New York Islanders.

The Caps recorded a 4-1 win in St. Louis on Dec. 1 and have taken two of the last three encounters between the clubs overall. The Blues have suffered losses in their last two trips to D.C.