Back home for Ovi and Caps: Lightning vs. Capitals preview

Game Fifteen: Washington Capitals (7-6-1) at Tampa Bay Lightning (7-5-2)

Time: 7:00 PM EST

Location: Benchmark International Arena, The Building Formerly Known as the Ice Palace

TV/Stream/Radio: Scripps, MNMT2, ESPN+, 102.5 FM, Lightning App

Odds: Lightning -148

Know the Opponents: Japers’ Rink

The Tampa Bay Lightning return home to kick off the home portion of their November schedule against their former Southeastern Division running partners, the Washington Capitals. After a 2-1 road trip that featured big wins against Utah and Vegas, the Bolts are looking to keep the good times rolling against a Caps team that is spiraling a bit with just one win in their last six games. They have been all over the map with a 7-1 loss to the Senators followed by a 1-0 loss to the Stars, and more defeats at the hands of the Islanders, Sabres, and Penguins. They did beat the brakes off of the Blues, 7-1, so that’s nice.

In that game against the Blues Alex Ovechkin became the first player in NHL history to breach the 900-goal mark for his career, so at least the Lightning fans don’t have to worry about him celebrating that milestone on their home ice (although if had done it in the building, it would have been legitimately awesome if he broke out the fire celebration as an homage).

Much like the team he has played for his entire career, Ovechkin is off to a bit of a meandering start as he sits with just three goals in fourteen games this season. Hats off to Tom Wilson for his team-leading nine-tallies. He does have some skill when he’s not getting suspended. Like the Lightning, the Capitals are trying to stay relevant as they transition to their next generation of players. At some point it’s going to be Ryan Leonard and Aliaksei Protas leading the charge, but for now, Ovechkin, Wilson, and John Carlson are looking for one last shot of glory.

On the Lightning’s side of the ice, there are some question marks in regards to the roster. Anthony Cirelli, who is off to one of the best starts of his career, left the Vegas game in the second period with an upper-body injury and didn’t return. If he isn’t able to play, the Lightning will miss his seven goals and four assists without a doubt, but they’ll also miss one of their top face-off guys. With the way the team has struggled in the dot, that could be a bit of a concern tonight.

The status of Nick Paul is still uncertain. He was skating with the team during their road trip and should be activated soon, but the team hasn’t indicated any move in that direction just yet. They are currently maxed out at the 23-player limit for roster spots, so someone will have to be sent to Syracuse to clear the spot for Paul to return from long-term injured reserve.

[Post Morning Skate UPDATE]

Anthony Cirelli is out for tonight’s game. Coach Cooper is hoping to have him back for the Rangers next week, but he is officially day-to-day. The Gourde line stays together and Jake Guentzel is back with Brayden Point and Nikita Kucherov. Everything else is jumbled, see the updated line chart below.

The Bolts could be going 11/7 considering Darren Raddysh was skating on the top power play unit. In that case, either Curtis Douglas or Jack Finley is the likely forward to be scratched.

[End UPDATE]

They do have a three-day break after tonight’s game, so it is possible that they go one more game without him just to give the veteran forward a little more time to acclimate to the ice before returning to action. If that is the case, and with Tom Wilson sitting on the opposing team’s bench, it could be a return to action for Curtis Douglas, who was scratched for a few games when the Lightning went with an 11/7 game-day roster.

On the road trip, the Lightning’s offense woke up a little bit as they scored twelve goals over the three games. In a season where putting the puck in the net has been as difficult as figuring out a professional athlete’s taxes, it was nice to see them return to some of the offensive flow they had last season. The power play also showed some signs of life, netting two against the Golden Knights.

They both came after Coach Jon Cooper made a line-up tweak, as he swapped Victor Hedman and Darren Raddysh with The Bald Eagle joining Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Jake Guentzel and The Big Swede on a unit with Kucherov, Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, and Dominic James. There was no practice on Friday, so Coach Cooper and Jeff Halpern’s plan for tonight are still a bit of a mystery.

[UPDATE]

It looks like the changes are sticking, at least to begin the game.

#GoBolts power play groups this morning: Raddysh-Kucherov-Point-Guentzel-Bjorkstrand Hedman-Hagel-Goncalves-James-Holmberg

— Benjamin Pierce (@boltsben.bsky.social) November 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM

[End UPDATE]

The Lightning’s resurgence has come at a pretty good time as it’s allowed them to creep up the standings and keep pace with the division leading Montreal Canadiens, who are 6-2-2 over their last ten games. Had the Bolts continued to flounder, the gap in points could have started to reach the unrecoverable point. They’re lingering just outside of the Wild Card spot, but are in a solid stalking position, just four points away from Montreal.

They have to keep grinding out the wins and picking up the points, and that starts with Washington tonight.

Potential Lines

Tampa Bay Lightning

Forwards:

Defense:

Goaltenders:

Washington Capitals

Forwards:

Defense:

Goaltenders: