NHL Game Preview - Ottawa at Washington

Tue Feb 26, 2019 7:00 PM EST

The Washington Capitals head into Tuesday night's home game against Ottawa looking a little bit different than they did about a week ago.

But the Senators really have a new look, thanks to their wheeling and dealing before Monday's trading deadline.

The Capitals did not make any last-minute moves at the trading deadline on Monday afternoon, but they acquired left wing Carl Hagelin from the Los Angeles Kings and defenseman Nick Jensen from the Red Wings last week.

Both are expected to help the team's struggling penalty-killing unit. Hagelin played in Saturday's loss in Buffalo, plus Sunday's victory at home over the New York Rangers. Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said Tuesday the team is confident they can use the veteran in numerous spots.

Jensen made his Capitals' debut in the New York game and worked on adjusting to his new team.

"Yeah, it was tough not being able to practice or anything," Jensen said on NHL.com. "I think my break-outs in the (defensive) zone probably could have been a little better, but it's something that I feel like comes with time and experience with this team."

The Capitals basically did what they have been doing for the past few seasons, going after a few players with NHL experience at the deadline to shore up some of their holes.

But the Senators -- last in the overall NHL standings -- were busier and made the long-anticipated trade of forward Mark Stone, their team leader in goals (28) and points (62). He and minor league forward Tobias Lindberg were sent to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for forward Oscar Lindberg, prospect Erik Brannstrom, plus a second-round pick in 2020.

Oscar Lindberg had four goals and eight assists in 35 games for the Golden Knights this season. He also had 11 points (nine goals, two assists) last season as Vegas made it to the Stanley Cup finals in its expansion season.

Brannstrom, 19, was a first-round pick by the Golden Knights in the 2017 draft. The defenseman had seven goals and 21 assists (28 points) in 41 games this season for Chicago of the American Hockey League.

In the last few days, Ottawa traded two-time All-Star Matt Duchene and Ryan Dzingel to Columbus in separate deals.

The Senators received Anthony Duclair and two second-round draft picks (2020, 2021) in exchange for Dzingel and a 2019 seventh-round pick.

The Duchene trade brought in a 2019 first-round pick, a conditional first-round choice in 2020, plus forward prospects Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson from Columbus. Duchene and minor-leaguer Julius Bergman went to Blue Jackets.

So, the team's top three goals scorers this season -- Stone, Duchene and Dzingel -- all have been dealt, and it's a new day for the Senators.

But it's not an easy situation for the rebuilding team.

"These are real people's lives," Ottawa defenseman Mark Borowiecki told the Ottawa Sun a few days ago. "A lot of guys put down roots in cities and get settled in, and their kids love it and there are wives and girlfriends, whatever it may be. It's tough. There's a lot of anxiety and stress."

--Field Level Media