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Caps host Oilers, shoot for sixth straight win

Mar 9, 2011 - 4:27 PM (Sports Network) - The Washington Capitals have taken over first place in the Southeast Division thanks to a series of close victories. The Caps will shoot for a sixth straight win this evening, when they host the Edmonton Oilers at the Verizon Center.

Washington has won five consecutive contests and each victory has come by a one-goal margin. The last two wins were decided after regulation, including Monday's important shootout triumph in Tampa.

The Capitals led Tampa Bay by one point for the division lead heading into Monday's clash and Washington extended that cushion by one with a shootout victory over the Lightning at St. Pete Times Forum. Alex Ovechkin scored the lone goal in the shootout to lift the Caps to the 2-1 decision.

Ovechkin wrapped up the opening round of the shootout by roofing a shot over Tampa Bay's Dwayne Roloson. Braden Holtby, who was called upon to relieve Washington starting netminder Michal Neuvirth after the latter was struck in the head by a Nate Thompson shot early in the contest, turned away the Lightning's trio of Dominic Moore, Adam Hall and Vincent Lecavalier.

Neuvirth stayed in the crease through the opening 20 minutes, but was on the bench at the outset of the second period. Holtby made 21 saves the rest of the way for Washington, which tied the game on Alexander Semin's goal with 5:32 left in regulation.

"I think it's one of the tougher things to do, but you have so much adrenaline, especially at this level, when you get told you're going in that you usually feed off it and hope for the best," Holtby said.

A piece of metal from Neuvirth's mask went into his eye after he was hit by Thompson's shot, but Caps head coach Bruce Boudreau told the media after the game that the young goaltender's injury was not a serious one.

"Michal's fine," said Boudreau. "The shot -- part of the metal on his mask went into his eye and he couldn't get it out .He got it out and he was fine after that and he's going to be OK."

Washington center Nicklas Backstrom is questionable for tonight after suffering an injured finger against the Lightning. Backstrom, who is second on the Caps with 55 points, was forced to sit out the third period on Monday.

The Capitals are playing the first test of a three-game homestand tonight and are 19-8-7 as the host this season.

The Oilers, meanwhile, had a three-game winning streak halted Tuesday in Philadelphia, as the Flyers rolled to a 4-1 victory at Wells Fargo Center.

Jean-Francois Jacques had the only goal of the game for the Oilers and Devan Dubnyk stopped 23-of-26 shots in the loss.

"It's one thing to respect your opponents," said Edmonton head coach Tom Renney. "It's another thing to respect them and stand around and watch them play. Ultimately, we got our legs under us, but the horse was out of the barn."

The Oilers have split the first two games on a five-game road trip. Edmonton, which is last in the NHL with 54 points, has an 11-17-4 record as the visiting club this season.

Edmonton forward Gilbert Brule has sat out the last two games with flu-like symptoms and is questionable for tonight's contest.

Washington recorded a regulation win in Edmonton last season, but the Oilers still have four victories in the last seven meetings between the clubs. The Oilers had lost six straight in Washington before notching a 5-2 road win over the Caps the last time the clubs met in D.C. on Jan. 13, 2009.