Game #8 Washington Capitals Vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: October 24, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 3-8-2-0
Caps Game 8 Record: 10-17-5-0
All-Time vs. TAM: 42-22-6-4
Last Season vs. TAM: 2-4-2
Last Meeting: 3/31/07, WAS 2 TAM 5

This Year:
WAS Record: 3-4-0
Standings Points: 6
Division Rank: Tied 3^rd
Conference Rank: Tied 11^th
Last Game: 10/20/2007, WAS 1 PIT 2
Streak: Loss 4

TAM Record: 4-2-0
Standings Points: 8
Division Rank: Tied 2^nd
Conference Rank: Tied 7^th
Last Game: 10/20/2007, TAM 6 ATL 2
Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 Ovechkin, 25 Kozlov, 17 Clark
Forward Line 2: 19 Backstrom, 92 Nylander, 28 Semin
Forward Line 3: 18 Pettinger, 39 Steckel, 15 Gordon
Forward Line 4: 87 Brashear, 21 Laich, 43 Fleischmann
Defense Pair 1: 3 Poti, 23 Jurcina
Defense Pair 2: 2 Pothier, 26 Morrisonn
Defense Pair 3: 55 Schultz, 52 Green
Goalie: 37 Kolzig
Back-up Goalie: 1 Johnson

Tampa
Forward Line 1: 20 Prospal, 4 Lecavalier, 26 St. Louis
Forward Line 2: 17 Hlavac, 19 Richards, 7 Ouellet
Forward Line 3: 21 Darche, 77 Gratton, 16 Ward
Forward Line 4: 36 Roy, 29 MacDonald, 74 Tarnasky
Defense Pair 1: 54 Ranger, 71 Kuba
Defense Pair 2: 55 O’Brien, 37 Lukowich
Defense Pair 3: 39 Lundin, 3 Janik
Goalie: 40 Holmqvist
Back-up Goalie: 30 Denis

Injuries:
Washington – 14 Fehr (hip) IR, 44 Eminger (ankle) IR
Tampa – 22 Boyle (wrist) IR, 34 Ryan Craig (herniated disk) IR, 27 Taylor (hip) IR, 24 Karlsson (abdominal strain) DTD

Caps Milestones:
Mike Green will play in his 100^th career game vs. Tampa
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:

The Caps have lost 4 straight games coming into the match up with Tampa. Help is on the way in the name of Alexander Semin. Semin’s ankle may be ready to go against the Bolts. Last season he torched Tampa to the tune of 9 goals and 13 points in 8 games. The Capitals are trying to boost their power play that is currently ranked 28^th in the league. Semin led the Caps with 17 power play goals last season. However they need to be aware of Tampa who scored 4 shorthanded goals against the Caps last year. Tampa is ranked 20^th on the penalty kill and have 1 shorthanded goal in 6 games this season. For the Caps to win they need to use their puck control skills to keep Tampa’s from setting up in the Caps zone. Tampa out shot the Caps last season by 47 shots (263 to 216). They also need to keep out of the penalty box. The Caps have allowed 9 power play goals in the last four games. Look for the Capitals to take the play to Tampa and with Semin back in the lineup, beat the Lightning in a close one.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 TAM 2.

Official Preview

Editor note: Please let me know if there is any other information you would like to see in the game previews. Thanks for reading - Joe