Ovechkin Leads Capitals Against Kraken in High-Stakes Matchup

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Capitals host the Seattle Kraken this afternoon at Capital One Arena as both teams vie for critical points in the playoff race.

Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. ET, with coverage on KHN, MNMT, KONG, SN (JIP), and SN360. Washington is eager to harness the momentum from their recent trades, particularly the debut of forward Anthony Beauvillier, acquired from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Beauvillier is expected to make an immediate impact on the ice alongside established stars like Alex Ovechkin, who continues his pursuit of the all-time regular-season goals record, further adding to the anticipation of today’s matchup.

The projected lineup for the Capitals sees Ovechkin paired with Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas on the top line. Connor McMichael, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Tom Wilson will round out a formidable second line. The team is also managing injuries, including Sonny Milano, who remains sidelined with an upper-body injury.

“We’re excited to have Anthony joining us today,” said Capitals coach. “His energy and skills will complement our offensive strategies well.”

On the opposite end, the Kraken are leaning on their dynamic line combinations as well. Jaden Schwartz, Matty Beniers, and Kaapo Kakko will lead the attack for Seattle, with Jared McCann and Shane Wright following closely. The team indicates that Joey Daccord is likely to start in goal today, having filled in effectively after Philipp Grubauer‘s 23-save performance in the previous game.

“We need to execute our game plan if we want to compete. Washington is a tough opponent, especially with Ovechkin on his home ice,” said Kraken head coach.

Capitals’ defense features Rasmus Sandin and John Carlson on the blue line, both of whom are crucial in transitioning the puck out of their zone and facilitating offensive plays. Washington fans are looking forward to a strong defensive display against a Kraken team that has shown increasing resilience throughout the season.

As both teams take to the ice, strategies and line matchups will be closely monitored. Analysts suggest that special teams will play a vital role, given both squads’ varying efficiencies on the power play and penalty kill.

This matchup is not only pivotal for standings in the East but also serves as a barometer for how both teams will navigate the rest of the season and into potential playoff scenarios.