Barner is expected

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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins will try to keep their slim hopes of a division title alive Kamalei Correa Jersey , and Alex Ovechkin is slated to become the first player in Washington Capitals history to reach 1,000 NHL games when the teams clash Sunday night at PPG Paints Arena.

The Capitals (46-25-7) are coming off a 4-1 loss Friday against the Carolina Hurricanes but still sit first in the Metropolitan Division, three points ahead of the second-place Penguins (45-28-6), who clinched a playoff spot for a franchise-record 12th year in a row Saturday with a 5-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Capitals were disappointed with the loss against the Hurricanes, which ended a five-game winning streak.

“It was a game that (we) could (have) put some more distance between us and the Penguins,” Washington coach Barry Trotz said.

Capitals center Jay Beagle said it was not a matter of putting the Penguins game ahead of the game against the Hurricanes.

“I don’t think we overlooked them, but we had better make sure we’re coming in to (Pittsburgh) in playoff mode because that’s going to be like we’ve seen a playoff matchup Thomas Morstead Jersey ,” Beagle said. “We’ve got to go in there and get playing the right way. Now, obviously, it starts Sunday.

“We’ve got to play playoff hockey starting Sunday and get in that mindset. And it’s going to be good because we’re playing an opponent that’s easy to get in that mindset for.”

Washington winger T.J. Oshie traveled to Pittsburgh, but his status is unclear after he left Friday’s game because of a lower-body injury. Trotz indicated that the Capitals are being extra cautious with injuries this close to the postseason.

Ovechkin, 32, is the first member of the 2004 NHL draft to reach 1,000 games. The sniper Mike Pouncey Jersey , selected first overall that summer, scored his 600th career goal earlier in March.

The Capitals and Penguins have had a strong rivalry for decades, in recent years because of the matchup of Ovechkin against Pittsburgh star centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

This time, Pittsburgh might be more concerned about earning points to hang onto second in the division for home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Penguins are 29-8-2 at home, 16-20-4 on the road.

“Now we can look to put ourselves in the best possible position,” coach Mike Sullivan said of clinching. “We’re going to take each game as it comes and try to do our very best to win each game, and we’ll see where that takes us.”

Washington has four games remaining George Blanda Jersey , Pittsburgh and Columbus three apiece. At the very least, the Penguins are assured of getting to the playoffs, so they can make a run at a third straight Stanley Cup.

“If you don’t make the playoffs, you can’t win the Stanley Cup. That’s the first step to make the playoffs,” said Penguins winger Patric Hornqvist, who picked up his 200th career goal Saturday.

“Now we just have to make sure we try to get better every single time we come to the rink. We know what it’s all about in the playoffs. Hopefully, we have a really fun run.”

Pittsburgh could be without a significant player against the Capitals. Winger Phil Kessel Roger Lewis Jersey , who has played in 689 consecutive games and ranks among the league leaders with 87 points, left in the third period of Saturday’s game because of an unspecified injury.

The Carolina Panthers have signed free-agent running back Kenjon Barner from the Philadelphia Eagles to a one-year contract.

Financial terms were not available Friday.

Barner is expected to compete as a third-down back and returner. A day earlier, the Panthers placed third-down back Fozzy Whittaker on injured reserve with a knee injury.

The 29-year-old Barner was drafted by Carolina in the sixth round in 2013 draft. He spent one season with the Panthers before being traded to Philadelphia in 2014.

Barner played in 13 games with one start last season with the Super Bowl champions. He ran for 57 yards on 16 attempts with one touchdown.

Carolina also signed third-round draft choice safety Rashaan Gaulden and seventh-round draft choice linebacker Andre Smith.

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