Washington Capitals Look for Third Straight Victory Against Winless Los Angeles Kings
Washington Capitals Look for Third Straight Victory Against Winless Los Angeles Kings
By Brian Hradsky
October 20, 2026
The Washington Capitals will look to extend their winning streak to three games Tuesday night when they welcome the struggling Los Angeles Kings to Capital One Arena. Washington enters the matchup with a 5-3-0 record after winning consecutive games against the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils, while Los Angeles remains winless at 0-4-2. The Capitals have an opportunity to continue building momentum during their five-game homestand, but they cannot overlook a desperate Kings team searching for its first victory under former Washington head coach Peter Laviolette. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., with television coverage available on Monumental Sports Network.
Capitals Building Momentum Despite Injuries
Washington enters Tuesday’s contest following an impressive 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Saturday afternoon. Ryan Leonard, Aliaksei Protas and Dylan Strome provided goals as the Capitals overcame an early deficit and scored four consecutive times before New Jersey added a late power-play goal. The victory followed Washington’s 5-4 win over Montreal on October 14, giving Spencer Carbery’s team consecutive victories after dropping back-to-back games against Seattle and Carolina. The Capitals have scored nine goals over their last two games, demonstrating their ability to generate offense despite several important absences.
Washington’s recent success has been particularly encouraging considering the team’s injury situation. Centers Pierre-Luc Dubois and Justin Sourdif were unavailable against New Jersey, while defensemen Matt Roy and Rasmus Sandin also remained sidelined. Dubois was placed on injured reserve, Sandin is on long-term injured reserve, and Roy has been working toward a potential return to the lineup. The Capitals will need their depth players to continue contributing while Carbery navigates the absences and evaluates his available options.
Kings Desperate to End Winless Start
Los Angeles arrives in Washington facing significant pressure after opening its season without a victory through six games. The Kings have managed only two standings points, both coming from overtime losses, and have struggled to produce consistent offensive opportunities. Their latest setback came Saturday against the Boston Bruins, who defeated Los Angeles 4-1 despite the Kings scoring early in the first period. The loss marked another frustrating performance for a team that entered the season hoping to establish itself as a contender in the Western Conference.
Offensive production has been the biggest concern for Los Angeles, which entered the week averaging just 2.00 goals per game. The Kings have scored exactly one goal in each of their previous four contests, putting tremendous pressure on their goaltending and defensive structure. Their penalty killing has also struggled, operating at just 61.9 percent entering Monday’s NHL action. Those weaknesses could present opportunities for Washington, particularly if the Capitals establish sustained offensive-zone pressure and draw penalties.
The matchup also features the return of Laviolette to Washington as head coach of the Kings. Laviolette previously guided the Capitals before departing the organization following the 2022-23 season, making Tuesday’s contest an intriguing meeting against his former club. Kings captain Drew Doughty believes the team’s upcoming five-game road trip could help Los Angeles develop chemistry and finally secure its first victory. Washington must be prepared for an opponent that understands the importance of ending its losing streak before the situation becomes even more difficult.
Key Players to Watch
Alex Ovechkin — Washington Capitals
Alex Ovechkin remains a central figure in Washington’s offense and helped create Ilya Protas’ goal against New Jersey with a well-placed pass. His experience and playmaking could prove especially valuable against a Los Angeles penalty kill that has struggled throughout the opening weeks. The Capitals will look for their captain to help generate scoring chances and maintain offensive pressure throughout the contest. Ovechkin’s ability to capitalize on power-play opportunities could become a deciding factor if the Kings continue struggling while shorthanded.
Ryan Leonard — Washington Capitals
Ryan Leonard delivered a highlight-reel goal against New Jersey and continues to demonstrate his offensive potential. His speed, creativity and willingness to attack defenders could create problems for a Kings defense that has allowed more than four goals per game. Leonard has shown the confidence necessary to make an impact in important situations, giving Washington another dangerous offensive option. Another productive performance from the young forward would provide the Capitals with a valuable boost as they pursue their third consecutive victory.
Adrian Kempe — Los Angeles Kings
Adrian Kempe represents one of Los Angeles’ most dangerous offensive threats and will be important to the Kings’ effort to end their scoring drought. His speed and shooting ability make him a player Washington must account for whenever he enters the offensive zone. The Capitals must limit his opportunities in transition and prevent Los Angeles from creating quality chances off turnovers. The Kings need their established offensive players to deliver if they hope to turn their season around.
Special Teams Could Decide the Game
The Capitals should have opportunities to exploit Los Angeles’ struggling penalty kill, which has stopped only 61.9 percent of opposing power plays. Washington will need effective puck movement, traffic in front of the net and disciplined shot selection to take advantage of those opportunities. Los Angeles has also struggled on the power play, converting at 14.3 percent entering Tuesday’s matchup. If Washington can win the special-teams battle, it would significantly improve its chances of securing another home victory.
Washington must also avoid giving the Kings unnecessary opportunities to regain confidence through special-teams situations. A struggling team can quickly build momentum with an early power-play goal, particularly when it has been searching for answers offensively. The Capitals should emphasize disciplined defensive positioning and efficient penalty killing while maintaining pressure at even strength. Controlling these situations would allow Washington to dictate the pace of the contest rather than allowing Los Angeles to establish momentum.
Injury Updates and Lineup Questions
Washington could receive an important defensive reinforcement with Matt Roy potentially returning against his former team. Roy participated in Monday’s practice, while Dubois returned wearing a non-contact jersey and Sourdif remained unavailable because of illness. Jonny Brodzinski, recalled from Hershey, made his Capitals debut against New Jersey and provides another option at center while Washington deals with its injuries. The Capitals will continue evaluating their available personnel before finalizing Tuesday’s lineup.
Los Angeles could also receive reinforcements as it attempts to secure its first victory of the season. Mats Zuccarello participated in Monday’s practice after missing three games, although his availability remained subject to confirmation. The Kings have struggled to establish offensive consistency, making the potential return of an experienced playmaker particularly important. Both coaching staffs will have important lineup decisions to make before the opening faceoff.
MSB Take
The Capitals have a favorable opportunity to extend their winning streak, but the Kings’ winless record makes this a potentially dangerous matchup. Los Angeles has struggled offensively and defensively, yet its desperation could produce a much more aggressive performance than Washington might otherwise expect. The Capitals should focus on controlling possession, avoiding unnecessary penalties and attacking a vulnerable Los Angeles penalty kill. Washington cannot afford to become complacent against an opponent capable of turning its season around with one strong performance.
Washington’s offensive depth has been encouraging during its recent victories, especially with several important players unavailable because of injuries. Leonard, Strome and the Protas brothers have provided valuable contributions, while Ovechkin remains capable of influencing the game in multiple ways. If the Capitals maintain the offensive execution they displayed against Montreal and New Jersey, they should have enough firepower to secure their sixth victory of the season. Washington has the advantage on paper, and a disciplined performance should allow Carbery’s team to extend its winning streak.
MSB Prediction: Washington Capitals 4, Los Angeles Kings 2.
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