Game #28 Washington Capitals at New Jersey Devils

Where: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

When: December 7, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 7-12-1-0
Caps Game 28 Record: 14-16-2-0
All-Time vs. NJ: 68-54-8-5
Last Season vs. NJ: 1-3-0
Last Meeting: 2/25/07, WAS 2 NJ 3

This Year:
WAS Record: 9-16-2
Standings Points: 20
Division Rank: Tied 5^th
Conference Rank: 15^th
Last Game: 12/01/2007, WAS 2 FLA 2
Streak: Win 1

NJ Record: 15-10-2
Standings Points: 32
Division Rank: Tied 1^st
Conference Rank: Tied 4^th
Last Game: 12/05/2007, NJ 4 BOS 3
Streak: Win 8

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 25 KOZLOV, 56 BOURQUE (?)
Forward Line 2: 43 FLEISCHMANN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 18 PETTINGER, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 21 LAICH, 53 LAING
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 55 SCHULTZ
Defense Pair 2: 2 POTHIER, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 3: 3 POTI, 23 JURCINA
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

New Jersey
Forward Line 1: 9 PARISE, 11 MADDEN, 14 GIONTA
Forward Line 2: 20 PANDOLFO, 16 ZUBRUS, 15 LANGENBRUNNER
Forward Line 3: 26 ELIAS, 19 ZAJAC, 23 CLARKSON
Forward Line 4: 10 PELLEY, 18 BRYLIN, 22 ASHAM
Defense Pair 1: 5 WHITE, 28 RACHUNEK
Defense Pair 2: 7 MARTIN, 6 GREENE
Defense Pair 3: 27 MOTTAU, 2 VISHNEVSKI
Goalie: 30 BRODEUR
Back-up Goalie: 1 WEEKES

Injuries:
Washington – 14 FEHR (hip) IR, 17 CLARK (groin) DTD, 15 GORDON (broken hand) Week-To-Week, 92 NYLANDER (undisclosed) DTD
New Jersey – 25 JANSSEN (dislocated shoulder) IR

Caps Milestones:
Brian Pothier will play his 100^th game as a Capital
Alexander Semin needs 2 Points to reach 100 for his career
Matt Pettinger needs 5 Points to reach 100 for his career
Brian Pothier needs 4 Points to reach 100 for his career
Michal Nylander needs 4 Goals to reach 200 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals had a six day break after playing 8 games in 13 days. Interim Head Coach Bruce Boudreau has fully implemented his system and seems to be getting a buy in from the players. This game should be a big test for the team as the Devils have won their last 8 games. The Caps will also be without the services of Captain Chris Clark, Boyd Gordon and Michal Nylander. Somebody will have to be called up from Hershey to fill out the lineup. I’m thinking it will be Chris Bourque. Look for the Caps to aggressively forecheck and force NJ to turn the puck over. They will need to continue pounding pucks at the net as Devils Goalie Martin Brodeur is playing stellar right now. The Capitals have 30 or more shots in their last 9 games.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 NJ 2.

Official Preview

Editors Note: I will be without computer access until Monday so I will see you then and I predict Caps 6 ATL 1 on Saturday. Lets go Caps!