Game #14 Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes

Where: RBC Center, Raleigh, NC

When: November 5, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-8-1-0
Caps Game 14 Record: 14-14-4-0
All-Time vs. CAR: 62-90-19-0
Last Season vs. CAR: 3-5-0
Last Meeting: 10/6/07, WAS 2 CAR 0

This Year:
WAS Record: 5-8-0
Standings Points: 10
Division Rank: Tied 4^th
Conference Rank: Tied 14^th
Last Game: 11/2/2007, WAS 2 PHI 3
Streak: Loss 2

CAR Record: 8-3-3
Standings Points: 19
Division Rank: 1^st
Conference Rank: 2^nd
Last Game: 11/3/2007, CAR 4 FLA 2
Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 15 GORDON, 25 KOZLOV,
Forward Line 2: 19 BACKSTROM, 92 NYLANDER, 43 FLEISCHMANN
Forward Line 3: 18 PETTINGER, 39 STECKEL, 21 LAICH
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

Carolina
Forward Line 1: 61 STILLMAN, 17 BRIND’AMOUR, 11 WILLIAMS
Forward Line 2: 13 WHITNEY, 12 STAAL, 26 COLE
Forward Line 3: 16 LADD, 8 CULLEN, 24 WALKER
Forward Line 4: 59 LAROSE, 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 WARD
Back-up Goalie: 47 GRAHME

Injuries:
Washington – 14 FEHR (hip) IR, 28 SEMIN (ankle) DTD, 44 EMINGER (ankle) IR, CLARK (ear) DTD, 3 POTI (groin) DTD
Carolina – 7 WALLIN (shoulder)

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 Goals to reach 200 for his career
Donald Brashear needs 1 Shot on Goal to reach 900 for his career
Viktor Kozlov needs 6 Shots on Goal to reach 1,900 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals are reeling after back-to-back 1-goal losses to the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers. The Caps have been coming out and playing well in the first period but cannot seem to keep the momentum going. Penalties and an inability to score were problems in both games. In the Philly game the Caps had 2 power plays as compared to the Flyers 7. In the two games the Caps managed a mere 2 goals. The Caps start a three game road trip Monday, and they need to put some wins on the board. They are currently tied for last place in the standings. If you believe the rhetoric on the Caps Message Board, the Caps better put a much better product on the ice or they will be seeing a new coach. They want Coach Hanlon's head on a plate. We’ll see how the team responds. With the injuries to Cark, Semin and Poti, I’m not sure management will be that quick on the trigger. I don’t think its midnight yet but it’s getting late. Look for another fast start by the Caps but Carolina has been playing very good hockey lately so it will be a tough test. If the Caps can limit their penalties, they have a chance. If not, they won’t win. Neither Clark nor Semin has made the trip to North Carolina. Poti traveled with the team and will be a game time decision.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 2 Car 1.

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