The Edmonton Oilers (9-8-4) visit the Washington Capitals (9-8-2) tonight at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., with both teams sitting in the middle of tightly packed divisional races and looking to steady uneven early-season form.

Edmonton comes in off a 5–1 loss in Buffalo — their second multi-goal road defeat in the past week — and their defensive issues continue to loom. The Oilers are giving up 3.48 goals per game and have allowed four or more goals in three of their last five outings.

Offensively, the top-end talent remains elite: Connor McDavid enters with 30 points (21 assists), while Leon Draisaitl sits on 24 points and is tied for second in the NHL with 13 goals.

Edmonton’s power play is still one of the most dangerous units in the league at 30.8%, ranking third in the NHL. But their goaltending has been below league average. Stuart Skinner holds an .889 save percentage, and backup Calvin Pickard sits at .830, leaving little margin for error defensively.

Washington, meanwhile, is grinding out results despite scoring just 2.79 goals per game. They rely heavily on Tom Wilson (18 points, 9 goals) and Dylan Strome (16 points, team-high +11), with Alex Ovechkin adding nine goals but shooting just 13.6% on 44 shots.

Their biggest strength is in net: Logan Thompson has been one of the NHL’s best goaltenders this season with a 1.85 GAA and .925 save percentage, ranking first in the league in goals-against average and save percentage among qualified starters.

Washington’s overall defensive structure reflects that stability — they allow just 2.47 goals per game, placing them among the league’s top five defensive teams.

Special teams also create a clear contrast. Washington’s power play is near the bottom of the league (14.0%), while Edmonton’s penalty kill sits at 81.5% and has produced two short-handed goals. The Capitals’ path tonight leans on disciplined 5-on-5 play and forcing Edmonton into mistakes. The Oilers’ path leans heavily on their stars generating rush chances and power-play opportunities.

The key matchup will be Edmonton’s elite offensive core against Washington’s elite goaltending. If the Oilers can generate high-danger looks and win the special-teams battle, they have the firepower to outpace Washington. But if this becomes a slower, tighter, defensively structured game — the exact style the Capitals thrive in — Thompson gives Washington a legitimate edge.

Prediction

Expect a fast-paced, back-and-forth affair with both teams capable of generating chances. Edmonton’s firepower gives them a slight edge, provided they tighten up defensively and keep pace. Washington’s home-ice advantage and structure keep this very much in the game.

Projected Final Score: Oilers 4, Capitals 3

Injury Report

Edmonton Oilers

Curtis Lazar — Out

Noah Philp — Out

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins — IR (Expected return: Nov. 29)

Kasperi Kapanen — IR-LT (Expected return: Dec. 2)

Washington Capitals

Pierre-Luc Dubois — IR (Expected return: Mar. 9)

How to Watch Oilers vs. Capitals

Puck drop for tonight’s game between the Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals is set for 7:00 p.m. Eastern at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The game airs on TNT and streams live on the TNT app and website, as well as HBO Max.

If you’re a cord-cutter without an active livestreaming plan, you can watch the game for free by taking advantage of free trials from DIRECTV Stream (Choice plan or above), Fubo TV, or YouTube TV.

YouTube TV even offers a 20-minute free preview, without having to register for a trial — if you just want to catch part of the game.

Edmonton Oilers vs. Washington Capitals

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Time: 7:00 PM Eastern

Venue: Capital One Arena, Washington, D.C.

TV: TNT

Streaming: TNT app and website, HBO Max