Game #10 Preview: Washington Capitals at Minnesota Wild

Where: Xcel Energy Center, St Paul, MN

When:  October 28, 2010 8:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-11-1-0

Caps Game 10 Record: 12-17-5-0

All-Time vs. MIN: 4-5-0-1

All-Time at MIN: 0-4-0-1

Last Season vs. MIN: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 11/13/09, WAS 3 MIN 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 6-3-0

Standings Points: 12

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 4th      

Last Game: 10/27/10, WAS 3 CAR 0

Streak: Win 2

MIN Record: 3-3-2

Standings Points: 8

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 13th    

Last Game: 10/25/10, MIN 2 LA 3 (OT-SO)

Streak: Loss 2

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERREAULT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 10 BRADLEY, 39 STECKEL, 26 HENDRICKS

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Minnesota

Forward Line 1: 15 BRUNETTE, 9 KOIVU, 20 MIETTINEN

Forward Line 2: 48 LATENDRESSE, 7 CULLEN, 24 HAVLAT

Forward Line 3: 23 NYSTROM, 11 MADDEN, 22 CLUTTERBUCK

Forward Line 4: 12 KOBASEW, 21 BRODZIAK, 16 STAUBITZ

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 8 BURNS

Defense Pair 2: 5 ZANON, 3 ZIDLICKY

Defense Pair 3: 4 STONER, 41 FALK

Goalie: 32 BACKSTROM

Back-up Goalie: 60 THEODORE

Injuries:

Washington – 15 GORDON (undisclosed) IR, 1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) DTD, 90 JOHANSSON (hip flexor) DTD

Minnesota – 96 BOUCHARD (concussion) IR, 37 HARDING (knee) IR, 51 SHEPPARD (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 8 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

After a 3-0 whitewash of the Carolina Hurricanes the Caps turn right around and face the Minnesota Wild on the second stop of their road trip. As a franchise, the Caps have not won a game in 5 tries at Minnesota. The team will look to duplicate their effort from last night where they played the most complete game of the season. They will need to keep up the defensive awareness and attach the offensive zone more to create turnovers and havoc in the Minnesota end of the rink. The Wild have had a tough start to the year but are starting put things together. I’m thinking this will be another low scoring affair with lots of up and down action. If the Caps get the early lead they will win this game. If they don’t it will be a dogfight.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 MIN 1

Official Preview