Game #6 Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: October 18, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-5-0-0
Caps Game 6 Record: 10-16-4-2
All-Time vs. NYI: 80-78-13-0
Last Season vs. NYI: 1-3-0
Last Meeting: 10/8/07, WAS 2 NYI 1

This Year:
WAS Record: 3-2-0
Standings Points: 6
Division Rank: Tied 2^nd
Conference Rank: Tied 4^th
Last Game: 10/13/2007, WAS 3 BUF 7
Streak: Loss 2

NYI Record: 3-3-0
Standings Points: 6
Division Rank: 2^nd
Conference Rank: Tied 4^th
Last Game: 10/13/2007, NYI 1 PHI 3
Streak: Loss 2

Season Series:
Game 1 10/8/07, WAS 2 NYI 1
Game 2 10/18/07
Game 3 12/22/07
Game 4 2/20/08

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 Ovechkin, 25 Kozlov, 43 Fleischmann
Forward Line 2: 19 Backstrom, 92 Nylander, 17 Clark
Forward Line 3: 18 Pettinger, 15 B.Gordon, 10 Bradley
Forward Line 4: 87 Brashear, 39 Steckel, 21 Laich
Defense Pair 1: 3 Poti, 23 Jurcina
Defense Pair 2: 2 Pothier, 26 Morrisonn
Defense Pair 3: 4 Erskine, 52 Green
Goalie: 37 Kolzig
Back-up Goalie: 1 Johnson

Islanders
Forward Line 1: 26 Fedotenko, 89 Comrie, 13 Guerin
Forward Line 2: 20 Bergenheim, 63 Vasicek, 81 Satan
Forward Line 3: 11 Hilbert, 18 Sillinger, 7 Hunter
Forward Line 4: 12 Simon, 10 Park, Bootland
Defense Pair 1: 24 Martinek, 47 Bergeron
Defense Pair 2: 32 Witt, 25 Sutton
Defense Pair 3: 8 Gervais, 14 Campoli
Goalie: 39 DiPietro
Back-up Goalie: 34 Dubielewicz

Injuries:
Washington – 14 Fehr (hip) IR, 44 Eminger (Ankle) IR, 28 Semin (Ankle) DTD, Ovechkin (undisclosed) DTD, Gordon (back) DTD

Islanders – 17 Bates (abdomin) IR, 16 Sim (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:
Tom Poti will play in his 600^th career game on Thursday night.
Alexander Semin needs 4 Points to reach 100 for his career
Chris Clark needs 7 Points to reach 100 with the Capitals
Matt Pettinger needs 8 Points to reach 100 for his career

Preview:

After last weekend the Caps are looking to rebound with a good performance against the New York Islanders. The Caps need to get back to what was working for them in the first two games of the season, puck control, shots on goal, and discipline. The last 3 games the Caps have been severely out shot 125 to 63. They have given the opponents 15 power play opportunities in the last two games. In the first three games they allowed only 4 chances in each game. Ovechkin and Gordon are expected to play, but Semin is not. Look for the Caps to break out of the shooting slump and simplify their play. I predict Alex Ovechkin with a huge night. Congratulations to Tom Poti who will be playing in his 600^th career game.

Update - D Jeff Schultz has been recalled from Hershey.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 NYI 1.

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