Shop for Washington Capitals Gear at Shop.NHLcom!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Game #62 Washington Capitals at Carolina Hurricanes

Where: RBC Center, Raleigh, NC

When: February 23, 2008, 5:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 5-6-2-0
Caps Game 62 Record: 12-15-3-1
All-Time vs. CAR: 28-18-7-3
Last Season vs. CAR: 3-5-0
Last Meeting: 2/8/08, WAS 1 CAR 2

This Year:
WAS Record: 28-26-7
Standings Points: 63
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 11th
Last Game: 2/20/08, WAS 2 NYI 3 (OT-SO)
Streak: Loss 1

CAR Record: 31-28-5
Standings Points: 67
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 3rd
Last Game: 2/21/08, CAR 5 ATL 3
Streak: Won 1

Game 1: 10/6/07, WAS 2 CAR 0
Game 2: 11/5/06, WAS 0 CAR 5
Game 3: 11/24/07, WAS 5 CAR 2
Game 4: 11/30/07, WAS 3 CAR 4
Game 5: 2/8/08, WAS 1 CAR 2

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 43 FLEISCHMANN
Forward Line 2: 28 SEMIN, 25 KOZLOV, 18 PETTINGER
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, 4 POTI

Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 44 EMINGER
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG

Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Carolina
Forward Line 1: 14 SAMSONOV, 12 STAAL, 24 WALKER
Forward Line 2: 13 WHITNEY, 8 CULLEN, 26 COLE
Forward Line 3: 16 LADD, 51 HAMILTON, 19 LETOWSKI
Forward Line 4: 18 BAYDA, 28 BROOKBANK, 37 AUCOIN
Defense Pair 1: 42 GLEASON, 6 HEDICAN
Defense Pair 2: 7 WALLIN, 77 CORVO
Defense Pair 3: 5 KABERLE, 2 WESLEY
Goalie: 30 WARD
Back-up Goalie: 47 GRAHME

Injuries:
Washington – 17 CLARK (groin) DTD, 92 NYLANDER (shoulder) IR, 2 POTHIER (head) IR
Carolina – 11 WILLIAMS (knee) IR, 45 TANABE (concussion) IR, 59 LAROSE (broken leg) IR, 17 BRIND’AMOUR (knee) IR, 44 EAVES (neck/shoulder) IR, 4 SEIDENBERG (ankle) IR

Caps Milestones:
Donald Brashear needs 2 Points to reach 200 for his career
Matt Pettinger needs 1 Point to reach 100 for his career
Tom Poti needs 13 Shots On Goal to reach 1,100 for his career

Preview:
The Capitals take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh in a huge battle for control of the Southeast Division. Carolina currently sits in first place but the Capitals have three games in hand and trail the Canes by 4 points. A must win for the Caps who need to put a run on if the plan to play past April 5th. The Caps have been playing the competition incredibly close with 12 of their last 16 games being decided by a single goal. Look for Alex Ovechkin to come out strong against the Canes as he has been held off the scoreboard for three consecutive games, the only time this has happen this season. Alexander Semin is riding a three game goal scoring streak and has scored 18 points in 16 games vs. the Canes. Look for the Caps to be physical against the Canes and put a lot of shots on the goal early. I expect this game to be very close with a bit of the rough stuff as well. Caps will pull this one out late hopefully before overtime.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 CAR 2




No comments:

Add This