Washington — The Capitals have no regulation losses at home since eight days before Christmas, when the Canadiens picked them off, but the Red Wings intend to do what they can Thursday night.
Petr Mrazek said he will start in goal, and the defenseman Ryan Sproul also said he will return to the lineup after an absence of 12 games, since Jan. 10.
Sproul has played in four games since Dec. 22, despite injuries to Niklas Kronwall, Brendan Smith and Mike Green.
It will a tough start against a powerful offense.
The Capitals have scored 66 more goals then they have yielded, leading the NHL in goal differential by a dozen over the next closest team, the Wild (54).