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

Official Preview