Game #12 Washington Capitals at New York Rangers

Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

When: November 1, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-5-2-0
Caps Game 12 Record: 8-20-4-0
All-Time vs. NYR: 80-73-18-4
Last Season vs. NYR: 1-3-0
Last Meeting: 10/12/07, WAS 1 NYI 3

This Year:
WAS Record: 5-6-0
Standings Points: 10
Division Rank: Tied 3^rd
Conference Rank: Tied 9^th
Last Game: 10/29/2007, WAS 7 TOR 1
Streak: Win 1

NYR Record: 4-6-1
Standings Points: 9
Division Rank: Tied 4^th
Conference Rank: Tied 13^th
Last Game: 10/29/2007, NYR 3 TAM 1
Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 43 FLEISCHMANN, 92 NYLANDER, 21 LAICH
Forward Line 3: 18 PETTINGER, 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 16 SUTHERBY, 10 BRADLEY
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 23 JURCINA
Defense Pair 2: 2 POTHIER, 55 SCHULTZ
Defense Pair 3: 52 GREEN, 4 ERSKINE
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Rangers
Forward Line 1: 81 HOSSA, 19 GOMEZ, 68 JAGR
Forward Line 2: 25 PRUCHA, 23 DRURY, 14 SHANAHAN
Forward Line 3: 44 HOLLWEG, 15 BETTS, 10 DAWES
Forward Line 4: 17 DUBINSKY, 28 ORR
Defense Pair 1: 3 ROZSIVAL, 5 GIRARDI
Defense Pair 2: 51 TYUTIN, 8 MALIK
Defense Pair 3: 27 MARA, 18 STAAL, 34 STRUDWICK
Goalie: 30 LUNDQVIST
Back-up Goalie: 40 VALIQUETTE

Injuries:
Washington – 14 FEHR (hip) IR, 28 SEMIN (ankle) DTD, 44 EMINGER (ankle) IR, CLARK (ear) DTD, 3 POTI (groin) DTD
Rangers – 16 Avery (shoulder) IR, 24 CALLAHAN (knee) IR, 82 STRAKA (broken finger) IR

Caps Milestones:
Alexander Semin needs 4 Points to reach 100 for his career
Chris Clark needs 3 Points to reach 100 with the Capitals
Matt Pettinger needs 5 Points to reach 100 for his career
Brian Pothier needs 7 Points to reach 100 for his career
Michal Nylander needs 7 Assists to reach 200 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals will try to extend to momentum they gained in Wednesday’s 7-1 victory in Toronto into New York as the face the Rangers for the second time this season. In game 4 the Rangers stopped the Caps season opening 3-game winning streak with a 3-1. The Caps will need to stay out of the penalty box as the Ranger scored all 3 goals on the power play. The Caps power play is starting to show signs of life over the past 3 games as they have 5 goals in their last 16 attempts. The penalty killing is also returning to form not allowing a goal in the last 2 two game. Look for the Caps to continue playing the same style and keep the pressure on the Rangers. The Rangers are still feeling out their line combinations but there is a rumor that agitator extraordinaire Sean Avery may play this evening.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 NYR 1.

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