Game #53 Preview: Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning

Where: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL

When:  February 4, 2011, 7:30 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 4-9-2-0

Caps Game 53 Record: 12-17-5-0

All-Time vs. TAM: 54-67-17-2

All-Time at TAM: 33-28-9-0

Last Season vs. TAM: 4-2-0

Last Meeting: 1/12/11, WAS 0 TAM 3

Season Series: 2-1-1

This Year:

WAS Record: 27-15-10

Standings Points: 64

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 2/1/11, WAS 2 MON 3 (OT-SO)

Streak: Loss 3

TAM Record: 32-15-5

Standings Points: 69

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd    

Last Game: 2/1/11, TAM 4 PHI 0

Streak: Won 6

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERRAULT, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 90 JOHANSSON, 83 BEAGLE

Forward Line 4: 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 52 GREEN, 55 SCHULTZ

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 23 HANNAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Tampa Bay

Forward Line 1: 26 ST. LOUIS, 91 STAMKOS, 9 DOWNIE

Forward Line 2: 12 GAGNE, 4 LECAVALIER, 16 PURCELL

Forward Line 3: 10 BERGENHEIM, 19 MOORE, 21 RITOLA

Forward Line 4: 18 HALL, 44 THOMPSON, 42 TYRELL

Defense Pair 1: 39 LUNDIN, 5 OHLUND

Defense Pair 2: 7 CLARK, 77 HEDMAN

Defense Pair 3: 8 JONES, 13 KUBINA

Goalie: 35 ROLOSON

Back-up Goalie: 33 ELLIS

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 28 SEMIN (hip) DTD, 16 FEHR (upper body) DTD, 30 NEUVIRTH (lower body) DTD

TAM – 6 MALONE (body) DTD

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 5 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 7 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 8 assists to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals are heading into must win territory. With 30 games left on the schedule the Caps are 5 points back of their opponents in tonight’s matchup. If they want to contend for the SE Division title they need to start closing that gap. Unfortunately, the team has been consistently inconsistent with another overtime, shootout loss on Tuesday. Washington gave up a two goal lead and will need a better effort to be in the game against the Lightning. Tampa put a 4-0 beating on the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Flyers. For the Capitals to win they will need a focused 60-minute effort. Expect this game to be another high paced game with lots of physical play but very conservative to start. The Capitals scored on the power play last game and this will be the key for the rest of the season. If they can start scoring on the power play regularly they will be much more dangerous. The Lightning have shutout the Capitals in there last two meetings so look for the Caps to really crash the crease to get a goal. I think Washington comes out on top in this one with a strike on the power play but it should be close.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 TAM 1

Official Preview