In their final home game prior to their longest road trip of the 2024-25 season, the Caps host the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday night at Capital One Arena. Saturday’s game is also the Caps’ lone Metropolitan Division matchup in a span of 14 games and 32 days.

The Penguins and Capitals renewed arguably the highest-profile rivalry of the salary-cap era on Saturday night.

The P Penguins (19-20-8) remain below .500 after leaving a smoldering crater where a five-game homestand was supposed to be.

To Carbery’s point, the Caps were guilty of overpassing at times, passing themselves out of prime scoring areas on two or three occasions. They also had a couple of odd man rushes in which they weren’t able to put a shot on Pittsburgh’s rookie goaltender Joel Blomqvist, who turned in a strong performance in a losing effort.