Game #7 Washington Capitals at Phoenix Coyotes

Where: Jobing.com Arena, Phoenix, AZ

When: October 23, 2008, 10:00 PM

History:

Caps Record on this Date: 5-7-4-0

Caps Game 7 Record: 9-19-5-0

All-Time vs. PHO: 5-6-4-1

All-Time At PHO: 2-3-2-0

Last Season vs. PHO: Did not play

Last Meeting: 1/1/07, WAS 2 PHO 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 3-2-1

Standings Points: 7

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 7th

Last Game: 10/21/08, WAS 1 CAL 2

Streak: Loss 2

PHO Record: 2-3-0

Standings Points: 4

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 14th

Last Game: 10/18/08, PHO 1 MON 4

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 91 FEDOROV, 17 CLARK

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 92 NYLANDER, 10 BRADLEY

Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON/16 FEHR

Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 55 SCHULTZ, 89 SLOAN

Defense Pair 3: 23 JURCINA, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 60 THEODORE

Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Phoenix

Forward Line 1: 13 CARCILLO, 12 JOKINEN, 19 DOAN

Forward Line 2: 89 BOEDKER, 91 TURRIS, 88 MUELLER

Forward Line 3: 34 WINNIK, 11 HANZAL, 41 TIKHONOV

Forward Line 4: 17 FEDORUK, 28 REINPRECHT, 16 MCGRATTAN

Defense Pair 1: 55 JOVANOVSKI, 53 MORRIS

Defense Pair 2: 4 MICHALEK, 44 SAUER

Defense Pair 3: 3 YANDLE, 21 HALE

Goalie: 30 BRYZGALOV

Back-up Goalie: 32 TELLQVIST

Injuries:

Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR, 25 KOZLOV (leg) DTD, 3 POTI (groin) DTD

Phoenix – 26 PERRAULT (concussion) IR, 24 AHNELOV (broken finger) IR

Caps Milestones:

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

Matt Bradley needs 4 points to reach 100 in his career.

Michael Nylander needs 5 shots on goal to reach 1,600 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 7 shots on goal to reach 1,300 in his career.

Preview:

The second stop on the Caps three game road trip is in Phoenix. This is the first visit for the Caps since Alex Ovechkin scored “The Goal” back in 2006. The Caps bring with them a two game losing streak and an ineffective power play. They squandered a 9-minute power play in Tuesday’s game with Calgary and the team could never get on track afterwards. Look for the Caps to simplify on the man advantage and try to get pucks and traffic to the net. Phoenix is young team that no one can take lightly. The Caps need to start fast and not let them in the game. Watch for a step up by Chris Clark or Brooks Laich in the high traffic areas. The Caps will be held close but take this one by a goal.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 PHO 2

Official Preview