Photo: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

With a 3:00 PM start set for the Capitals-Penguins tilt Saturday afternoon, neither team held a morning skate Saturday morning. Washington Capitals bench boss Peter Laviolette met with the media at 12:45PM where he announced Ilya Samsonov will get the start in goal against Pittsburgh.

Seeking his 50th career victory, Ilya Samsonov starts for the #Caps today in Pittsburgh. Conor Sheary (non-COVID illness) did not travel with the team and will miss today’s contest against his former team. #ALLCAPS

— Mike Vogel (@VogsCaps) April 9, 2022

Conor Sheary will not play due to a non-COVID illness. Garnet Hathaway, who missed the last game against the Lightning, is expected to return to the lineup today.

It is expected that Vitek Vanecek will get the start against the Bruins on Sunday at Capital One Arena.

Sullivan: Crosby, Marino and Zohorna are game-time decisions.

Zucker will play. McGinn will not.

Jarry in net. #Pens

— Wes Crosby (@OtherNHLCrosby) April 9, 2022

The Penguins are also dealing with bug going through the locker room. As a result, several players are a game time decisions, including Sidney Crosby. Tristan Jarry will get the start in goal for the Penguins.

The Dirty Birds

The Washington Capitals face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday for the fourth and final time this season. The Capitals are 2-1-0 against the Penguins this year and have outscored them 12-8. Washington has earned points in eight of their last 11 games against Pittsburgh (4-3-4).

Among active players, Alex Ovechkin’s 36 goals against the Penguins rank first and are tied for 15th in NHL history. Additionally, no active player with at least 25 games played against Pittsburgh has a higher points per game rate than Nicklas Backstrom (1.09).

Samsonov

Capitals goaltender Ilya Samsonov stopped 25 of 28 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday to record his 49th career win (49-19-7). Samsonov is currently one win away from becoming the 10th goaltender in franchise history to record 50 wins.

Should he win his next game, he will reach the 50-goal mark in 83 games played, the fewest games required of any NHL goaltender in the last three seasons. In addition, Samsonov is 12-4-2 on the road this season and ranks tied for 10^th in the in NHL in road wins despite ranking 20^th in games played.