Game #54 Washington Capitals at Columbus Blue Jackets

Where: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH

When: February 5, 2008, 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-7-1-0
Caps Game 54 Record: 17-11-2-1
All-Time vs. CLB: 5-1-1-0
Last Season vs. CLB: Did not play
Last Meeting: 10/5/05, WAS 3 CLB 2

This Year:
WAS Record: 24-24-5
Standings Points: 53
Division Rank: 3^rd
Conference Rank: 12^th
Last Game: 2/2/08, WAS 0 ATL 2
Streak: Loss 1

CLB Record: 25-23-6
Standings Points: 56
Division Rank: 3^rd
Conference Rank: 11^th
Last Game: 2/2/08, CLB 1 MIN 4
Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 14 FEHR
Forward Line 2: 28 SEMIN, 25 KOZLOV, 43 FLEISCHMANN
Forward Line 3: 53 LAING, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 21 LAICH
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 23 JURCINA, 55 SCHULTZ
Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 3 POTI
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Columbus
Forward Line 1: 61 NASH, 49 FRITSCHE, 13 ZHERDEV
Forward Line 2: 25 CHIMERA, 27 MALHOTRA, 9 VYBORNY
Forward Line 3: 51 MURRAY, 12 NOVOTNY, 40 BOLL
Forward Line 4: 16 BRASSARD, 19 PECA, 17 BRULE
Defense Pair 1: 52 FOOTE, 97 KLESLA
Defense Pair 2: 8 HEJDA, 6 HAINSEY
Defense Pair 3: 29 METHOT, 2 RUSSELL
Goalie: 31 LECLAIRE
Back-up Goalie: 30 NORRENA

Injuries:
Washington – 92 NYLANDER (shoulder) IR, 17 CLARK (groin) IR, 2 POTHIER (head) IR
Columbus – 33 MODIN (hamstring) IR, 91 FEDOROV (concussion) IR, 21 PICARD (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:
Donald Brashear will play his 900^th career game
Donald Brashear needs 2 Points to reach 200 for his career
Donald Brashear needs 5 PIM’s to reach 2,400 for his career
Viktor Kozlov needs 2 assists to reach 300 for his career
Viktor Kozlov needs 6 SOG to reach 2,000 for his career
Matt Pettinger needs 2 Points to reach 100 for his career
Matt Pettinger needs 1 SOG to reach 500 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals lack of secondary scoring has lead the recall of Eric Fehr from the Hershey Bears. Fehr was starting to show promise last season before suffering a back/hip ailment that took nearly a year to heal. The sniping forward will most likely take the right wing position on the first line alongside Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin. This will allow Viktor Kozlov to center the second line between Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischmann. Kozlov’s play making ability should open up the ice for the second line. Look for the Caps to try and get the chemistry going early and force the pace of the game. It should be an entertaining game with some of the most dynamic scorers in the league on both sides of the ice.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 CLB 2

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