Washington has its own problems, mostly on the injury report, but it's getting one guy back. Matt Roy is expected to return on defense after missing 6 games with a lower-body injury. Pierre-Luc Dubois, the top-line center, practiced with the team for the first time after missing 4 games, but he wore a no-contact jersey and is likely out again, probably along with Justin Sourdif. Rasmus Sandin is still on long-term injured reserve with a knee injury. The Capitals had still won 2 straight as of Saturday, and they've been getting goals from all over the lineup without those guys.
The Devils win was a good example. It was 1-1 after the 1st. Ryan Leonard scored on the power play, then Ilya Protas, Dylan Strome and Boone Jenner scored in a 3-goal 2nd period that put Washington up 4-1. Leonard and Protas are young forwards getting real minutes with Dubois and Sourdif out, and they're producing. The 5-4 win over Montreal before that was messier, but it counted. Washington is 5-3-0, with home wins over the Rangers, Canadiens and Devils and a home loss to Seattle.
Roy back on the blue line means a deeper defense in front of the net against a team that hasn't been scoring anyway. Dubois still looks a few days away, so the young forwards keep their minutes for at least 1 more night. On the other side, the Kings flew across the country after a home loss with a 7:00 PM ET puck drop waiting. A team that has scored 1 goal a game now has to beat Washington on the road, and the Capitals have scored at least 3 in 4 of their last 5.