MONTREAL (Interstat) — The Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens, two teams hovering near the .500 mark, will meet Thursday night at Bell Centre in a matchup of clubs seeking consistency.

Washington (9-10-0) arrives after a 2-1 home victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Monday. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren backstopped the win with a 30-save performance, while defensemen Matt Roy and Jakob Chychrun contributed a goal and an assist, respectively. The Capitals have shown flashes, including a 6-1 rout of St. Louis on Nov. 5, but have struggled to string wins together, alternating victories and losses in their last five games.

Montreal (10-9-0) is coming off a 4-3 shootout loss in Columbus on Monday. Rookie defenseman Lane Hutson led the way with a goal and an assist, with Oliver Kapanen and Josh Anderson also scoring. The Canadiens have been streaky, following a four-game winning streak in late October with a recent 1-3-0 stretch.

The game features two teams with nearly identical records, though Interstat’s game simulator projects a narrow 3-2 victory for the home side. The Capitals will look to build on their latest defensive effort, while the Canadiens aim to start a new winning streak before hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.