Preseason Game #4 Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: September 25, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:

All-Time vs. CAR: 26-15-7-3

Last Season vs. CAR: 3-5-0

Last Meeting: 3/22/07, WAS 3 CAR 4

This Preseason:

WAS Record: 1-1-1

CAR Record: 2-1-0

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

Other Defensemen: 9 Pollock, 52 Green, 55 Schultz, 78 Boumedienne

Carolina

Forward Line 1: 13 Whitney, 17 Brind’Amour, 11 Williams

Forward Line 2: 61 Stillman, 12 Staal, 26 Cole

Forward Line 3: 16 Ladd, 8 Cullen, 24 Walker

Forward Line 4: 18 Bayda, 51 Hamilton, 27 Adams

Defense Pair 1: 5 Kaberle, 6 Hedican

Defense Pair 2: 7 Wallin, 42 Gleason

Defense Pair 3: 22 Commodore, 2 Wesley

Goalie: 30 C. Ward

Back-up Goalie: 47 Grahme

Other Forwards: 14 Sutter, 19 Letowski, 32 Gillies

Other Defensemen: 4 Seidenberg, 33 Carson, 53 Borer

Other Goalies: 49 Leighton

Injuries:

Washington – 14 Fehr (hip)

Carolina – 59 LaRose (knee)

Preview:

The Caps first home preseason game is against the Carolina Hurricanes. This game should be much different from the first game these two teams played. Carolina won that game 4-3 in overtime. There will be much more NHL caliber talent on ice as the teams have paired down there rosters. The Caps have been trying several top six forward line combinations in the preseason. Nicklas Backstrom has played all three forward positions. Alex Ovechkin has been working with Viktor Kozlov and Alexander Semin has been working with Michal Nylander. Head Coach Glen Hanlon is trying to find one of the young prospects to step up into a top six forward role. Tomas Fleischmann and Jakub Klepis have been battling for the spot. If one of them can’t crack the line up, the spot may revert back to Captain Chris Clark, who scored 30 goals last season. Only one of the top 2 lines has played in each preseason game. The Caps have scored a goal in every regulation period except one in the preseason, so far. It will be interesting to see if coach Hanlon puts both lines in action against Carolina. I am anxious to see how they do with all their weapons in the lineup.