Crosby and the Penguins goes head-to-head with Ovechkin and the Capitals

A clash between the two great rivals Alex Ovechkin and Sydney Crosby Still attracts attention, but the closeness of the two teams overall makes this duel between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals at Capital One Arena (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW) even more relevant.

Both teams have 56 points and hold the two fourth-seat aces in the Eastern Conference. And as is often the case, the performances of the two talented players of a generation have been central to their team’s recent successes or failures.

Crosby had nine points (two goals, seven assists) in their last five games, a streak that the Penguins (24-15-8) have had at least one point every time (3-0-2). It wasn’t always easy, like Tuesday’s 7-6 overtime win over the Florida Panthers, but Pittsburgh are finding a way to earn points.

Ovechkin has been limited to two goals in his last two games, which partially explains the Capitals’ (25-19-6) setbacks, who are 3-6-0 in their last nine games. Ovechkin was notably absent against the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday and, unsurprisingly, the Capitals walked away in a 6-2 loss.

The Capitals’ struggles also result from their performance on the power play. They have scored just one goal in 22 attempts in their last nine games, allowing their opponents a short-handed goal as a bonus.

Tristan Jarry will be absent for at least the next two games for the Penguins, who could still count on the defender’s return Kris Letangwho had four points (two goals, two assists) against the Panthers.

Duels of Titans in the Atlantic section

The Tampa Bay Lightning will seek their 11th straight home win, but the challenge will be daunting when the Boston Bruins visit the Amalie Arena (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, BSSUN, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW) . .

The Bruins (38-5-4), who are having a historic season, have won their last seven games away and are undefeated in their last ten games on ice (9-0-1).

The Bruins became the team that needed the fewest games (47) in NHL history to reach the 80-point plateau on Tuesday.

The Lightning’s recent success (30-15-1) comes from the performance of some of their key players. The guard Andrei Vasilyevsky notably won eight of his last 11 starts, bringing his tally to 250 wins in 399 regular-season games. He is the second-fastest goaltender to reach this milestone in NHL history, behind Ken Dryden (381 games).

The Tampa Bay captain Steven Stamko has scored in his last four games and has at least one point in his last nine games (seven goals, six assists).

Thompson and Dahlin continue to pull the Sabers into the playoffs

The Buffalo Sabers will look to continue their progress toward a playoff berth when they visit the Winnipeg Jets at Canada Life Center (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW).

Two Sabers players (25-19-3) deliver performances that see them discuss some of the individual honors bestowed at the end of the season, and their performance is one of the main reasons Buffalo could put an end to their absence from the game since 2011 ongoing spring tournament.

Tagus Thompson is a top contender for the Hart Trophy for the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. Thompson has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his last five games. In the same period the defender Rasmus Dahlinan increasingly serious contender for the Norris Trophy, had five points (one goal, four assists).

The Jets (31-17-1) managed to neutralize Thompson in the only meeting between the two teams this season, a 4-2 win by Winnipeg at the KeyBank Center on Jan. 12.

If the Sabers are on a four-game winning streak, it should be noted that the Jets have won their last three games ahead of their fans.

On duty tonight…

Boston Bruins at Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNE, SNO, SNP, BSSUN, NESN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Detroit Red Wings at Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET; RDS, TSN2, BSDETX, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Pittsburgh Penguins at Washington Capitals (7 p.m. ET; NBCSWA, ATTSN-PT, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Buffalo Sabers at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, MSG-B, ESPN+, SN NOW)
New Jersey Devils at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, MSGSN, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Philadelphia Flyers at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, SN NOW)
Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche (9 p.m. ET; SN360, ALT, BSW, ESPN+, SN NOW)
Chicago Blackhawks at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, NBCSCH+, ESPN+, SN NOW)
St. Louis Blues at Arizona Coyotes (9 p.m. ET; BSAZ, BSNW, ESPN+, SN NOW)