Tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET, the Washington Capitals (4-5-3, 11 points) and Chicago Blackhawks (7-5-1, 15 points) take the ice for the first of two meetings this season live from the United Center in Chicago. The game can be live streamed here. Washington fans can hear all of the action on WFED 1500 while Chicago fans can do the same on WGN 720.
This is a preview of the 2015 NHL Winter Classic that will see the Capitals host the Blackhawks on New Year's Day at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
Washington is on a five-game losing streak and hasn't won a game since Oct. 25 while Chicago has lost two of its last three, but opens up a three-match home stand. These two teams split both of their regular season meetings in 2013-14.
The Capitals are coming off of a 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday in a game that saw Nicklas Backstrom notch a goal and an assist and Alex Ovechkin add two helpers in the loss.
Ovechkin (six goals, seven assists) and Backstrom (three tallies, 10 helpers) are tied for the team lead with 13 points thus far this season.
Washington was happy with its effort, though it stung to come up short Tuesday.
"That was a really good effort, but at the end of the day, losing [stinks]," Capitals defenseman Matt Niskanen said afterward per NHL.com. "That's just the way it is."
Brooks Laich (shoulder) is expected to be back in the Capitals lineup for the first time since Oct. 25.
The Blackhawks are coming off of an impressive 5-0 win over the Montreal Canadiens that halted a two-game skid.
Chicago had five different goal-scorers in the game, including captain Jonathan Toews who increased his team-leading goal total to five and now paces the team with 10 points.
Patrick Kane is tied for second on the team with nine points by way of finding the twine four times and adding five helpers.
Patrick Sharp (three goals, six assists) also has nine points, but he is out 3-4 weeks with a lower-body injury sustained during the game against the Canadiens.
"It's never easy, but we've been through it before," Toews told NHL.com about the injury. "It's unfortunate for [Sharp]. He's been playing well. He's always a big part of our offense and he's been really great in getting shots off and creating on the power play."
In net, Chicago is likely to turn to Corey Crawford, who is 4-2-1 with a 1.53 goals-against average and a .938 save percentage this season.
Washington is probable to start Braden Holtby in the crease and he is 3-3-2 thus far with a 2.67 GAA and a .891 save percentage.
The Capitals hope to halt a five-game skid while the Blackhawks look for their second straight win when these two engage in a 2015 Winter Classic preview live from the United Center tonight in Chicago.
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