Penguins vs Capitals: Playoff Implications on the Line as Rivalry Renews Sunday

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals renew their rivalry Sunday afternoon in a matchup loaded with playoff implications, with both teams desperate for wins as the regular season winds down.

The game tips off at 3 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., airing nationally on TNT and truTV with streaming available through DIRECTV. It marks the second leg of a weekend doubleheader between the clubs, with the Capitals having taken Saturday's meeting 6-3 in Pittsburgh.

Saturday's result was decided before the opening faceoff, as the Penguins placed captain Sidney Crosby alongside several other key players on the injury report. Without their franchise center, Pittsburgh was overwhelmed. The Caps kept their flickering playoff hopes alive with the decisive victory.

Crosby, along with defensemen Erik Karlsson and Kris Letang plus forward Evgeni Malkin, is listed as day to day. Whether the future Hall of Famer suits up for what could be a final chapter in one of hockey's great rivalries remains uncertain.

If Crosby and the walking wounded cannot go, the Penguins will lean on their depth to steal a win on the road against a Capitals team fighting for its postseason life. Washington has just two games remaining after Sunday and can ill afford a slip-up against a depleted opponent.

Pittsburgh closes the season with games at St. Louis and home against Boston. Washington travels to Columbus before returning home for the regular season finale. The stakes do not get much higher this time of year.