NHL Wednesday Preview: Washington vs. Ottawa

Washington is playing the worst hockey of the season and they face a team in Ottawa that is playing inspired hockey.

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While the Ottawa Senators are playing like a team on a mission to get back to the playoffs, the Washington Capitals certainly don't seem inspired to avoid a shocking finish outside the Eastern Conference's top eight.

The visiting Capitals have a chance to complete a season sweep of Ottawa on Wednesday night, but they'll have to turn around not only their fortunes but also those of the surging Senators.

These teams were involved in the only two games on Monday's NHL slate, and both contests quickly devolved into lopsided affairs. Ottawa finished a 3-0-0 road trip with a 6-0 rout of the New York Islanders before Washington suffered a disheartening 5-0 loss at Carolina.

While the Senators (31-22-8) strengthened their grip on seventh place in the East, the Capitals (29-25-5) are stuck in 10th, although they're still in play for a fifth straight Southeast Division title.

Washington's players had few answers for their fifth defeat in six games, which Troy Brouwer called "all-around embarrassing" after the Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead into the first intermission and finished with a 40-17 advantage in shots.

The inconsistent play of Alex Ovechkin is one reason Washington isn't winning nearly as often as in recent seasons. Ovechkin put only one shot on goal and posted a minus-2 on Monday, and he's been held without a point in three of the last four games and five of nine since his recent suspension.

The extended absence of Nicklas Backstrom, who still leads the Capitals in assists despite missing the last 21 games with a concussion, is another problem. Backstrom made a major impact on Washington's three victories over the Senators this season, scoring a goal in each and adding an assist in a 5-3 road win Dec. 7.

Washington has won six of seven against Ottawa to improve to 13-3-3 in the series since the start of 2007-08.

Now they have to hope that they can continue that stretch and start winning when they face off against Ottawa.