Preseason Game #2 Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators

Where: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario

When: September 20, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
All-Time vs. OTT: 24-26-5-0
Last Season vs. OTT: 2-2-0
Last Meeting: 1/30/07, WAS 2 OTT 3

This Preseason:
WAS Record: 0-0-1
OTT Record: 1-0-0

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 Ovechkin, 92 Nylander, 17 Clark
Forward Line 2: 28 Semin, 19 Backstrom, 25 Kozlov
Forward Line 3: 18 Pettinger, 15 B.Gordon, 10 Bradley
Forward Line 4: 87 Brashear, 16 Sutherby, 21 Laich
Defense Pair 1: 3 Poti, 23 Jurcina
Defense Pair 2: 2 Pothier, 26 Morrisonn
Defense Pair 3: 4 Erskine, 44 Eminger
Goalie: 37 Kolzig
Back-up Goalie: 1 Johnson

Other Forwards: 27 Clymer, 38 Klepis, 39 Steckel, 43 Fleischmann, 50 Motzko, 56 Bourque, 57 Wilson
Other Defensemen: 9 Pollock, 34 Pokulok, 52 Green, 55 Schultz, 78 Boumedienne, 89 Sloan
Other Goalies: 30 Neuvirth, 31 Machesney, 35 Cassivi

Ottawa
Forward Line 1: 15 Heatley, 19 Spezza, 11 Alfredsson
Forward Line 2: 20 Vermette, 12 Fisher, 44 Eaves
Forward Line 3: 22 Kelly, 37 McAmmond, 25 Neil
Forward Line 4: 50 Weller, 36 Hennessy, 10 Donovan
Defense Pair 1: 4 Phillips, 24 Volchenkov
Defense Pair 2: 6 Redden, 14 Meszaros
Defense Pair 3: 7 Corvo, 5 Schubert
Goalie: 1 Emery
Back-up Goalie: 29 Gerber

Other Forwards: 71 Foligno, 58 Bass, 48 Bois, 56 Daugavins, 43 Dimitrakos, 47 Donati, 17 Hamel, 49 Johnson, 45 Mapletoft, 60 Mauldin, 16 McGrattan, 63 McKenzie, 41 Nikulin, 42 O’Brien, 61 Yablonski, 53 Zubov
Other Defensemen: 52 Amadio, 39 Carkner, 46 Kinch, 59 Kudelka, 55 Lee, 3 Nycholat, 2 Richardson, 51 Smith, 54 Waugh
Other Goalies: 35 Daniels, 30 Elliott, 40 Glass

Injuries:
Washington – Fehr (hip), Machesney (groin)
Ottawa – N/A

Preview:
The Caps are likely to see most of the Ottawa regulars in this contest as most of them did not play in Tuesday’s 4-0 victory over Philadelphia. The Caps will be looking to see what line combinations will work for the top 6 forwards. Coach Hanlon has already stated that Nylander, and Kozlov will be the top centers and youngster Nicklas Backstrom will start out on the wing. Now he’s got to determine which Alex to put with which center. For now, I see Clark as the #1 RW followed by Backstrom. There is quite a battle going on for the bottom 6 forward positions. Pettinger, Brashear and Gordon seem like a lock. Others trying to win spots include Sutherby, Clymer, Bradley, Laich, Fleischmann, Klepis, Motzko, Bourque, and Wilson. The Goalie situation in pretty much decided with Kolzig as starter backed up by Johnson. Cassivi and Machesny seem destined for Hershey. The question is Neuvirth. The 19-year old has said he wants to play pro this year but still has the option to play one more year of juniors. And there is the possibility of South Carolina. The defense is another battle ground where Poti, Pothier, Morrisonn, and Jucina look to be the top 4. The final 2 spots are being contested by Eminger, Erskine, Boumedienne, Green, Shultz, Pokulok, Pollock, and Sloan. Ottawa should be a good test to see who will step up.