The Washington Capitals (7-5-1) visit the Pittsburgh Penguins (8-4-2) tonight at PPG Paints Arena in what will be the 99th head-to-head meeting between captains Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin — one of the NHL’s defining individual rivalries of the past two decades.
Washington enters this matchup leaning heavily on the elite play of goaltender Logan Thompson, who leads the NHL with a .938 save percentage and carries a 1.45 goals-against average through nine starts.
Thompson has allowed two goals or fewer in seven of those outings, including a .958 save percentage performance in a 6–1 win over St. Louis in his most recent appearance. The Capitals are 6–0-0 when he posts a .940+ save percentage.
But Washington’s scoring remains inconsistent. The Capitals have just 37 goals in 13 games, and their team shooting percentage sits around 9.7%. Tom Wilson (8G, 7A) leads the team with 15 points, while Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas have provided secondary scoring, and Jakob Chychrun leads the team in plus-minus.
Pittsburgh, meanwhile, comes in with a deeper, more balanced scoring profile. Evgeni Malkin leads the Penguins with 19 points (9G, 10A), while Crosby has 17 points and continues to drive play with heavy offensive-zone usage.
Erik Karlsson is logging more than 23 minutes a night on the blue line and remains central to Pittsburgh’s transition game. The Penguins have been strong at tilting the ice through high shot-attempt volume and puck possession, and their power play has sharpened in recent games. Their vulnerability has come late in games, most recently blowing a 3-0 lead to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Prediction
Expect a physical, tightly-played game with both clubs knowing each other’s tendencies well. The Penguins’ depth and surge of confidence give them a slight edge tonight — but Washington’s goaltending makes them dangerous if they lock in.
Projected Final Score: Penguins 4, Capitals 3
How to Watch Capitals vs. Penguins
Puck drop for tonight’s game between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins is set for 7:30 PM Eastern at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
The game airs live exclusively on the ESPN+ and Hulu streaming platforms.
You can watch the game free on ESPN+ by starting a trial with DirecTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV, all of which include ESPN+.
After signing up, activate your ESPN plan and link it to your MyDisney login. If you already have Hulu + Live TV, you’ll automatically get access through that account. Remember to cancel before the trial ends if you don’t plan to keep the service.
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Date: Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM Eastern
Venue: PPG Paints Arena, Pittsburgh, PA
TV/Streaming: ESPN+ and Hulu