Capitals @ Sharks

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Capitals (31-19-7)

@ San Jose Sharks (34-16-7)

Starting Goalies:

Braden Holtby(WSH): Confirmed

Martin Jones(SJ):  Confirmed

Current odds:

Washington Capitals: (+130)

San Jose Sharks: (-150)

• The San Jose Sharks were reeling the last time they saw the Washington Capitals and about to hit the All-Star break mired in a four-game losing streak before Evander Kane scored the tying goal with one second left in regulation. The Sharks wound up prevailing in overtime and haven’t lost since as they brace for a rematch with visiting Washington on Thursday night. San Jose had allowed six goals in four straight games before the dramatic comeback win against the Capitals that spurred a six-game winning streak and vaulted the Sharks atop the Pacific Division. “It was a big win for a bunch of reasons,” coach Peter DeBoer said. “We were obviously floundering and we were running on fumes heading into the break. The win and the way we won set up our break so we could enjoy it.”

• Reigning Stanley Cup champion Washington went into the break in a seven-game rut but started February on a 4-1-1 run before opening a season-high six-game road trip with a 3-0 setback at Columbus on Tuesday. “I think we’ve just got to focus in on (Thursday’s) game,” Capitals forward Tom Wilson said. “We’ve got to get back on track.”

• Washington was whistled for five minor penalties in the loss to Columbus, pushing its league-leading total to 206 and leaving both the players and coach Todd Reirden frustrated with the lack of discipline. “Same old story with the penalties,” defenseman Brooks Orpik said. “Especially on a back-to-back night, it just wears you down and takes a lot of energy out of you.” Captain Alex Ovechkin, who leads the league with 38 goals, recorded a hat trick in last month’s meeting to increase his totals against San Jose to 11 goals and 18 points in 19 games.

• Defenseman Erik Karlsson, who has been sidelined for the past eight games due to a lower-body injury, was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice and has a chance to return to the lineup against Washington. “Just been doing stuff off the ice to try to fix the problem that I’ve had,” Karlsson said. “I feel like it’s time to push it forward a bit and test the waters a bit. It’s still day-to-day and it felt decently good out there.” At Wednesday’s practice, Karlsson was paired with Marc-Edouard Vlasic, who also missed the last meeting due to a wrist injury.

• Sharks F Tomas Hertl had a had trick in the last meeting, igniting a six-game stretch in which he has seven goals and 12 points.

• Capitals C Evgeny Kuznetsov has seven goals and eight assists in his last nine games, including one of each versus San Jose.

• Kane has 10 goals in the past nine games, including a pair against Washington.