Game #2 Chicago Blackhawks At Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: October 10, 2008, 7:00 PM

History:

Caps Record on this Date: 5-10-2-0

Caps Game 2 Record: 10-20-3-0

All-Time vs. CHI: 24-16-5-5

All-Time At Home vs. CHI: 21-15-5-1

Last Season vs. CHI: 0-1-0

Last Meeting: 3/19/08, WAS 0 CHI 5

This Year:

WAS Record: 0-1-0

Standings Points: 0

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 14th

Last Game: 10/10/08, WAS 4 ATL 7

Streak: Loss 1

CHI Record: 0-1-0

Standings Points: 0

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 12th

Last Game: 10/10/08, CHI 2 NYR 4

Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 91 FEDOROV, 28 SEMIN 14 FEHR

Forward Line 3: 14 FLEISCHMANN, NYLANDER, 17 CLARK

Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 23 JURCINA

Goalie: 60 THEODORE

Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Chicago

Forward Line 1: 16 LADD, 19 TOEWS, 24 HAVLAT

Forward Line 2: 88 KANE, 10 SHARP, 33 BYFUGLIEN

Forward Line 3: 32 VERSTEEG, 36 BOLLAND, 11 SKILLE

Forward Line 4: 37 BURISH, 46 FRASER, 28 ADAMS

Defense Pair 1: 4 HJALMARSSON, 51 CAMPBELL

Defense Pair 2: 2 KEITH, 7 SEABROOK

Defense Pair 3: 5 SOPEL, 6 HENDRY

Goalie: 38 HUET

Back-up Goalie: 39 KHABIBULIN

Injuries:

Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR

Chicago – 43 WISNIEWSKI (torn acl) IR

Caps Milestones:

Victor Kozlov needs 3 points to reach 500 in his career.

Matt Bradley needs 5 points to reach 100 in his career.

Michael Nylander needs 4 points to reach 100 with the Capitals.

Preview:

The Capitals were given a dose of reality last night falling to the Atlanta Thrashers 7-4. The team will attempt to rebound from the loss against a familiar foe. Cristobal Huet who helped to lead the team to the SE Conference Championship last season returns to Verizon Center as a member of the Blackhawks. Huet’s debut for the Hawks was not a pleasant one as the NY Rangers defeated Chicago 4-2 last night. The Caps will raise the Championship banner tonight and they had better lift their play. Look for the Caps to be much more disciplined in their system and play much tighter defense. This should be a very competitive game but I think the team will rebound for the victory.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 CHI 2

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