Replay rules Alex Ovechkin just short of a goal, so he scores anyway - NBCSports.com

Just a few days removed from one of the greatest comebacks in franchise history, the Capitals (29-9-5) will look to stay in the win column as they host the Ottawa Senators (16-21-5). Tune in to NBC Sports Washington for all the action. Pregame coverage begins at 6 p.m. with Caps FaceOff Live followed by Caps Pregame Live at 6:30 p.m. bringing you up to the 7 p.m. puck drop. Stick with NBC Sports Washington after the game for postgame coverage with Caps Postgame Live, D.C. Sports Live and Caps Overtime Live.

Here is what you need to know for Tuesday’s game.

Finally healthy?

The Caps have been dealing with a flu bug going around the locker room, but it finally looks like they are on the mend with no absences at morning skate and no game-time decisions.

Here are the lines from the morning skate:

Alex Ovechkin - Nicklas Backstrom - Tom Wilson
Jakub Vrana - Evgeny Kuznetsov - T.J. Oshie
Carl Hagelin - Lars Eller - Richard Panik
Brendan Leipsic - Nic Dowd - Garnet Hathaway

Michal Kempny - John Carlson
Dmitry Orlov - Nick Jensen
Jonas Siegenthaler - Radko Gudas

The only remaining injury is Christian Djoos who did not take part in the morning skate. He remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Between the pipes

Ilya Samsonov will get the start. He was brilliant in Carolina on Friday, but Holtby got the start Sunday against the San Jose Sharks. Now with the team playing a back-to-back (Caps play in Philadelphia on Wednesday), Samsonov will get the first start with Braden Holtby likely starting Wednesday.

No pushovers

Washington played the Senators three times last season in three largely non-competitive wins, outscoring Ottawa 14-4. The closest game was a 3-2 victory on the road, but the Caps took a 3-0 lead and largely coasted from there for the win.

Let’s be clear, Ottawa is still not very good, but Washington should expect a far more competitive team than the one they toyed with last season. Under head coach D.J. Smith, the Senators are far outplaying expectations and are a much more difficult team to play against.

Having said that, however, most of their success this season has been at home. The Senators are 11-7-2 in Ottawa this season and 5-14-3 on the road.

Dominant Duclair

Ovechkin is among the top goal-scorers in the league with 24 goals, but not too far behind him sits Anthony Duclair with 21.

The 24-year-old Duclair has already had a bit of a journeyman’s career having played for five different NHL teams, but he may have finally found a home in Ottawa given the dominant season he is having. He missed the Senators' last game on Saturday with an undisclosed injury, but there are reports that he may be available for Tuesday.

A special advantage

There is no excuse for the Caps to give up a power play goal in this game. Zero. None. Washington still takes too many penalties and it cost them on Sunday as Evander Kane scored twice on the man advantage. Despite the tough game, the Caps still rank third on the penalty kill at 83.3-percent. On Tuesday, they will play against the worst power play in the league. Literally, the worst. The Senators rank dead last in the NHL scoring at only 11.4-percent.

Washington needs to stay out of the box, but if the penalty parade begins again, the penalty kill needs to be able to keep Ottawa from taking advantage.

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Replay rules Alex Ovechkin just short of a goal, so he scores anyway - NBCSports.com
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