(AP/Nick Wass)

Michal Neuvirth (2-2-0, 2.79 goals-against average, .913 save percentage) gets the start in the desert as Washington looks to extend its winning streak to five games. Saturday’s tilt is the first half of a tough back-to-back set and the Capitals would certainly like to start the weekend off with a victory before facing altitude and the Avalanche on Sunday night in Denver. Mike Smith (9-3-2, 2.87 goals-against average, .915 save percentage) will start for the Coyotes.

Discuss the game right here and pass the time before puck drop with these reads.

Chimera talks contract extension, fast start | Notes from the morning skate

Greenberg: Goalies shouldn’t be judged by wins and losses | Caps take randomness out of shootouts

Faceoff: 8 p.m. (EST), Jobing.com Arena
TV: CSN | Radio: 106.7 FM

Here is the Capitals’ lineup.

Forwards
Erat-Backstrom-Ovechkin
Laich-Johansson-Brouwer
Chimera-Grabovski-Ward
Volpatti-Latta-Wilson

Defense
Alzner-Carlson
Schmidt-Green
Urbom-Oleksy

Goal: Neuvirth, Holtby
Scratches: Eric Fehr, Dmitry Orlov and Jay Beagle.
LTIR: Jack Hillen (fractured tibial plateau), John Erskine (upper body).