Game #21 Washington Capitals vs. Atlanta Thrashers

Where: Verizon Centre, Washington, DC

When: November 21, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 7-5-2-0
Caps Game 21 Record: 16-9-7-0
All-Time vs. ATL: 21-14-5-4
Last Season vs. ATL: 3-3-2
Last Meeting: 11/6/07, WAS 1 ATL 2 (OT)

This Year:
WAS Record: 6-13-1
Division Rank: 5^th
Conference Rank: 15^th
Last Game: 11/19/07, WAS 3 FLA 4
Streak: Loss 4

ATL Record: 10-10-0
Division Rank: 3^rd
Conference Rank: Tied 9^th
Last Game: 11/19/07, ATL 4 TAM 3 (OT)
Streak: Win 3

Game 1: 10/5/07, WAS 3 ATL 1
Game 2: 11/6/07, WAS 1 ATL 2 (OT)

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 25 KOZLOV, 17 CLARK,
Forward Line 2: 43 FLEISCHMANN, 92 NYLANDER, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 18 PETTINGER, 19 BACKSTROM, 21 LAICH
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 39 STECKEL
Defense Pair 1: 3 POTI, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 26 MORRISONN, 55 SCHULTZ
Defense Pair 3: 2 POTHIER, 4 ERSKINE
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Atlanta
Forward Line 1: 17 KOVALCHUK, 12 WHITE, 18 HOSSA
Forward Line 2: 13 KOZLOV, 11 PERRIN, 38 HAYDAR
Forward Line 3: 9 DUPUIS, 44 LITTLE, 27 THORBURN
Forward Line 4: 29 LARSEN, 16 HOLIK, 23 SLATER,
Defense Pair 1: 2 EXELBY, 22 KLEE
Defense Pair 2: 77 ZHITNIK, 28 HAVELID
Defense Pair 3: 39 ENSTROM, 7 POPOVICH
Goalie: 1 HEDBERG
Back-up Goalie: 33 PAVELEC

Injuries:
Washington – 14 FEHR (hip) IR
Atlanta – 20 Rucchin (concussion) IR, 32 LEHTONEN (groin) IR

Caps Milestones:
Alexander Semin needs 3 Points to reach 100 for his career
Chris Clark needs 1 Points to reach 100 with the Capitals
Matt Pettinger needs 5 Points to reach 100 for his career
Brian Pothier needs 6 Points to reach 100 for his career
Tom Poti needs 2 Assists to reach 200 for his career
Michal Nylander needs 6 Goals to reach 200 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals are mired in a 4 game losing streak and have won only 3 of their last 17 games. They take on the extremely hot Atlanta Thrashers who have won their last 4 games and got back to the .500 mark on Monday. I thought I saw a switch thrown in the 3^rd period of the Caps last game against Florida. It seemed like the team actually came to life. They believed they would score and they did. They put together a good period and hopefully it will carryover into tonight’s match up. I’m afraid to think what might happen if it doesn’t. Look for the Caps to be more aggressive around the net and try to put some goals on the board. Also look for the Alex and Alex show to make something happen. If they continue the play from Monday the Caps will win. That’s a bold statement for sure, but why not.

Joe’s prediction: Caps end streak, Caps 4 ATL 2

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