Game #36 Washington Capitals at New York Islanders

Where: Nassau Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY

When: December 22, 2007, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 5-7-1-0
Caps Game 36 Record: 13-14-5-0
All-Time vs. NYI: 80-79-13-0
Last Season vs. NYI: 1-3-0
Last Meeting: 10/18/07, WAS 2 NYI 5

This Year:
WAS Record: 13-19-3
Standings Points: 29
Division Rank: 5^th
Conference Rank: 15^th
Last Game: 12/20/2007, WAS 2 MON 5
Streak: Loss 2

NYI Record: 16-15-2
Standings Points: 34
Division Rank: 5^th
Conference Rank: 12^th
Last Game: 12/21/2007, NYI 4 PIT 2
Streak: Won 1

Game 1: 10/8/07, WAS 2 NYI 1
Game 2: 10/18/07, WAS 2 NYI 5

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 18 PETTINGER
Forward Line 2: 43 FLEISCHMANN, 92 MICHAL NYLANDER, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 87 BRASHEAR, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 21 LAICH, 25 KOZLOV, 53 LAING
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 55 SCHULTZ
Defense Pair 2: 52 GREEN, 23 JURCINA
Defense Pair 3: 3 POTI, 4 ERSKINE
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Islanders
Forward Line 1: 26 FEDOTENKO, 89 COMRIE, 81 SATAN
Forward Line 2: 57 COMEAU, 18 SILLINGER, 13 GUERIN
Forward Line 3: 20 BERGENHEIM, 11 HILBERT, 7 HUNTER
Forward Line 4: 10 PARK, 63 VASICEK, 28 JACKMAN
Defense Pair 1: 24 MARTINEK, 32 WITT
Defense Pair 2: 47 BERGERON, 25 SUTTON
Defense Pair 3: 8 GERVAIS, 14 CAMPOLI
Goalie: 39 DIPIETRO
Back-up Goalie: 34 DUBIELEWICZ

Injuries:
Washington – 14 FEHR (hip) IR, 17 CLARK (groin) IR, 15 GORDON (hand fracture) IR, 2 POTHIER (thumb fracture) IR
Islanders – 17 BATES (hip) IR, 2 JOHNSON (knee) IR, 16 SIM (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:
Matt Pettinger needs 3 Points to reach 100 for his career
Brian Pothier needs 2 Points to reach 100 for his career
Michal Nylander needs 4 Goals to reach 200 for his career
Donald Brashear needs 5 Points to reach 200 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals travel to Long Island to take on the Islanders. After two tough games for the Caps, I think the pieces fall into place for a big victory for the Caps. They have been playing excellent hockey but haven’t been able to capitalize on their opportunities. Look for the Caps to press the Islander relentlessly and force turnovers. The Caps should make this a physical game since New York is coming off of a game last night. The Caps secondary scoring will make the difference in this one.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 6 NYI 2

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