Shop for Washington Capitals Gear at Shop.NHLcom!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Game #8 Preview: Washington Capital vs. Atlanta Thrashers



Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  October 23, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           
Caps Record on this Date: 5-8-4-0
Caps Game 8 Record: 13-17-5-0
All-Time vs. ATL: 34-18-5-5
All-Time home vs. ATL: 20-7-3-1
Last Season vs. ATL: 6-0-0
Last Meeting: 10/8/10, WAS 2 ATL 4

This Year:
WAS Record: 4-3-0
Standings Points: 8
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 6th      
Last Game: 10/21/10, WAS 1 BOS 4
Streak: Loss 2

ATL Record: 3-4-0
Standings Points: 6
Division Rank: 4th
Conference Rank: 9th    
Last Game: 10/22/10, ATL 2 TAM 5
Streak: Loss 2

Probable Line-Ups:     
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE
Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR
Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 39 STECKEL, 26 HENDRICKS
Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 3 POTI
Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON
Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN
Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH
Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Atlanta
Forward Line 1: 9 KANE, 49 BURMISTROV, 27 THORBURN
Forward Line 2: 21 EAGER, 80 ANTROPOV, 47 PEVERLEY
Forward Line 3: 16 LADD, 10 LITTLE, 22 STEWART
Forward Line 4: 19 MODIN, 23 SLATER, 36 BOULTON
Defense Pair 1: 33 BYFUGLIEN, 39 ENSTROM
Defense Pair 2: 24 MEYER, 29 ODUYA
Defense Pair 3: 6 HAINSEY, 3 SOPEL
Goalie: 50 MASON
Back-up Goalie: 34 MANNINO

Injuries:
Washington – 10 BRADLEY (lower body) DTD, 15 GORDON (undisclosed) DTD, 52 GREEN (upper body) DTD

Atlanta – 31 PAVELEC (concussion) IR, 4 BOGOSIAN (undisclosed) DTD

Caps Milestones:
Nicklas Backstrom needs 8 assists to reach 200 in his career.
Brooks Laich will play his 400th game as a Capital.
Brooks Laich needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.
Alex Ovechkin 6 shots on goal to reach

Preview:
After dropping two consecutive games to the Boston Bruins, the Capitals will try to rebound tonight at home versus the Atlanta Thrashers. The Caps lost the season opener in Atlanta earlier this month and have to put on a better effort to beat the Thrasher tonight. The team has gotten away from its systems and everyone is trying to win as individuals. This doesn’t work in the NHL. Look for the team to get back to its base game of getting the puck in deep with an aggressive forecheck to force the defense into mistakes its own end. Also the special teams play was disastrous in the last game, so look for a more direct approach on the power play. I think the Capitals will put in a very workman like effort and get back in the winning column.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ATL 1


No comments:

Add This