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Game #41 Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: January 6, 2009 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 5-6-1-0
Caps Game 41 Record: 9-14-9-1
All-Time vs. PHI: 64-93-19-0
All-Time home vs. PHI: 36-37-13-0
Last Season vs. PHI: 2-2-0
Last Meeting: 12/20/08, WAS 1 PHI 7

This Year:
WAS Record: 26-11-3
Standings Points: 55
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 2nd
Last Game: 1/3/09, WAS 2 NYR 1
Streak: Win 6

PHI Record: 21-10-8
Standings Points: 50
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 5th
Last Game: 1/3/09, PHI 1 LA 2 (OT-SO)
Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 92 NYLANDER, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 16 FEHR, 39 STECKEL, 17 CLARK
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 23 JURCINA, 27 ALZNER
Defense Pair 3: 62 COLLINS, 55 SCHULTZ
Goalie: 60 THEODORE
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Philadelphia
Forward Line 1: 12 GAGNE, 18 RICHARDS, 22 KNUBLE
Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 17 CARTER, 9 UPSHALL
Forward Line 3: 14 NODL, 13 METROPOLIT, 45 ASHAM
Forward Line 4: 32 COTE, 24 GRATTON, 47 SBISA
Defense Pair 1: 25 CARLE, 6 JONES
Defense Pair 2: 23 VAANANEN, 44 TIMONEN
Defense Pair 3: 5 COBURN, 41 ALBERTS
Goalie: 43 BIRON
Back-up Goalie: 49 MUNROE

Injuries:
Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR, 91 FEDOROV (ankle) DTD, 4 ERSKINE (concussion) DTD, 3 POTI (groin) DTD, 14 FLEISCHMANN (illness) DTD

Philadelphia – 48 BRIERE (GROIN) IR, 61 BEAULIEU (undisclosed) IR, 77 PARENT (torn labrum) IR, 2 HATCHER (knee) IR, 4 RATHJE (BACK) IR, 30 NITTYMAKI (groin) DTD, 36 POWE (hip) DTD, 24 GRATTON (abdominal pull) DTD, 46 KALINSKI (leg) DTD, 12 GAGNE (upper body) DTD, 15 LUPUL (undisclosed) DTD, 28 GIROUX (head) DTD, 45 ASHAM (knee) DTD

Caps Milestones:
Brooks Laich needs 1 point to reach 100 in his career.
Mike Green needs 3 points to reach 100 in his career.
Tom Poti needs 9 points to reach 300 in his career.
Viktor Kozlov needs 6 goals to reach 200 in his career.
Alex Ovechkin needs 10 goals to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:
The Capitals are red hot, winning 11 of their last 12 games, but they face the team that gave them the 1 loss in that stretch. The Philadelphia Flyer pounded the Caps 7-1 back on December 20th and that didn’t sit too well with the team. To say that these two teams dislike each other would be an understatement to say the least. The Caps were quite put off in the last game as Philly, with a 7-1 lead, had their #1 power play on the ice in the final minutes of the third period trying to pile on the score. Look for this game to be ultra-physical as both teams try to send a message. Watch for the rematch between Donald Brashear and Riley Cote as Brashear pummeled Cote twice in Philly. This will be a very closely contested game but I think the difference will be the Caps 3rd and 4th line play. This will be fun.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PHI 3

Official Preview

Game #40 Recap - Capitals 2 Rangers 1

Last night's game was an interesting to say the least. The Caps were victorious 2-1 over the visiting Rangers 2-1, running their home record to 17-1-1. The Caps got a power play goal from Mike Green and a shorthanded goal from Alex Ovechkin but the craziest moment of the evening came in the third period when Alexander Semin and Marc Staal dropped the gloves. If you haven't seen the video yet go here. It had me absolutely rolling with laughter. All I can say is that Semin has no future as an enforcer. Not only did he get 5 minutes for fighting but a game misconduct for not having his jersey tied down. I don't know which is worse Semin "playing the bongos" or Staal taking it. Too funny. Semin had just returned to lineup after missing 6 games with a back injury. The Caps now winners of 11 of their last 12 and face a big test on Tuesday with Philly coming to town.

Of Note:

• Alex Ovechkin scored the 4th shorthanded goal of his career. It was the 5th game-winner of the season for Ovechkin, who has 29 in his career. He is now tied for the NHL lead in goals with 27 and is second in points with 53. He has 363 career points tying him with Adam Oates for 15th most in Capitals history. Oh yeah, with 9 shots-on-goal for the game he tops the 1,500 shots-on-goal career milestone.
• Mike Green scored his team-leading 8th power play goal of the season. The back door goal was set up by some sweet passing from Viktor Kozlov and Alexander Semin.
• Stopping 21 of 22 shots-on-goal Jose Theodore picked up his 13th win. Don't look now but his GAA and save percentage are getting to be a bit more respectable at 2.98 and .892.
• David Steckel continued to play well and picked up the assist on Ovechkin's goal. It was the first time he and Ovechkin had connected for a score. Steckel has points in 3 consecutive games.
• The Caps victory gives them the best record thru 40 games in franchise history. The Caps are 26-11-3 so far this season.

Official Recap
Game Summary
Event Summary

Game #40 New York Rangers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: January 3, 2009 7:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 5-9-2-0
Caps Game 40 Record: 13-16-3-1
All-Time vs. NYR: 84-74-18-4
All-Time home vs. NYR: 48-31-9-3
Last Season vs. NYR: 2-2-0
Last Meeting: 12/23/08, WAS 5 NYR 4 (OT)

This Year:
WAS Record: 25-11-3
Standings Points: 53
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 2nd
Last Game: 1/1/09, WAS 7 TAM 4
Streak: Win 5

NYR Record: 23-13-3
Standings Points: 49
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 4th
Last Game: 12/28/08, NYR 5 NYI 4
Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 33 GIROUX, 92 NYLANDER, 17 CLARK
Forward Line 3: 39 STECKEL, 21 LAICH, 16 FEHR
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY
Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 23 JURCINA, 27 ALZNER
Defense Pair 3: 62 COLLINS, 26 MORRISONN
Goalie: 60 THEODORE
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Rangers
Forward Line 1: 91 NASLUND, 19 GOMEZ, 29 KORPIKOSKI
Forward Line 2: 25 PRUCHA, 17 DUBINSKY, 13 ZHERDEV
Forward Line 3: 10 DAWES, 23 DRURY, 24 CALLAHAN
Forward Line 4: 20 SJOSTROM, 15 BETTS, 28 ORR
Defense Pair 1: 18 STAAL, 3 ROZSIVAL
Defense Pair 2: 5 GIRARDI, 6 REDDEN
Defense Pair 3: 27 MARA, 45 KALININ
Goalie: 30 LUNDQVIST
Back-up Goalie: 40 VALIQUETTE

Injuries:
Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR, 91 FEDOROV (ankle) DTD, 4 ERSKINE (concussion) DTD, 28 SEMIN (back) DTD, 3 POTI (groin) DTD, 14 FLEISCHMANN (illness) DTD

Rangers – none

Caps Milestones:
Brooks Laich needs 1 point to reach 100 in his career.
Mike Green needs 4 points to reach 100 in his career.
Tom Poti needs 9 points to reach 300 in his career.
Viktor Kozlov needs 6 goals to reach 200 in his career.
Alex Ovechkin needs 11 goals to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:
The New York Rangers come to town with a lot of motivation. This is the first meeting with the Caps since they blew a 4-0 lead to lose just before Christmas. New York were also dropped to second place in their division this season as Philly took control of the top spot in the Atlantic Division. However, the Caps have been unbelievable at home this season with a 16-1-1 record. Look for an incredibly physical game as the Ranger try to get a little payback against the Caps. Good news for the Caps as Donald Brashear will return to the lineup. Watch for the Capitals secondary scorers as I think they will be the key. They contributed big time against Tampa. This should be a fun one to watch.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 NYR 3

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