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The Washington Capitals find themselves in another must-win game on Saturday evening when they host the East’s wild-card-leading Tampa Bay Lightning. The Capitals, coming off a consequential loss to the Buffalo Sabres, are again chasing a playoff spot as the Pittsburgh Penguins leaped over them for the second wild card position on Thursday night.

They’ll need to defeat a Lightning team that has gotten at least one standings point in eight of their last ten games and is led by the NHL’s leading scorer, Nikita Kucherov. Spencer Carbery met with the media pregame and revealed that he’s sticking with the same lineup from Buffalo to try and get the job done.

Carbery made several in-game changes in the loss to the Sabres but here is how the team started.

One of the main goals for the Capitals will be to keep Kucherov under wraps. The Russian superstar has torched the league this season to the tune of 141 points (43g, 98a) in 78 games. However, he has been relatively quiet this season against Washington, recording only a secondary assist in his prior two games against the Caps.

Guarding Kucherov fell primarily to a line made up of Dylan Strome, TJ Oshie, and Anthony Mantha. Notably, Nic Dowd did not play in the February 22 matchup and he’ll likely find himself glued to Kucherov’s trio on Saturday night.

“I’ve read some stuff about how hard he works at his craft, how dedicated he is to the game,” Carbery said hours before puck drop. “I’ve seen him up close and personal the last couple years in playoff series. He’s just such a unique [player]. For me, he’s the best player in the world on the power play, hands down. With his shot and playmaking, deception – nobody does it like him. What he’s doing five-on-five is just his playmaking, creativity combined with an ability to finish which is a crazy combination.

“We’re going to need to be aware of him. They gave us some issues – that is one area probably where we’re going to have to do a better job this time around. We were just okay in Tampa Bay. Their top line ran us around. Whoever is out against that group is going to have to make sure that they are paying close attention to the things that they do well.”

Tampa Bay’s top line of Brandon Hagel, Brayden Point, and Kucherov were +9 in shot attempts and +10 in scoring chances at five-on-five in the game that Carbery referenced.

The Capitals will be without defenseman Rasmus Sandin for the third straight game as he is expected not to return this season due to a head injury unless the Capitals can sneak into the playoffs. Rookie winger Ivan Miroshnichenko will be a healthy scratch for the third straight game. Mike Sgarbossa and Lucas Johansen join them in the press box.

Charlie Lindgren will stick in goal for his 46th start of the season after taking the loss in Buffalo. Lindgren started both prior matchups with Tampa Bay this season, stopping 48 of the 52 shots he faced.

The Capitals need to take care of their own business but they’ll also have an eye on a few other games around the NHL. The Philadelphia Flyers, Detroit Red Wings, and Pittsburgh Penguins will also be in action on Saturday night.

If the Capitals do not pick up a point against the Lightning, all three of those teams will have the chance to either extend a lead on the Caps or move in front of the Caps in the standings. Puck drop for Capitals-Lightning is set for 5:30 pm.