Game #56 Preview: Los Angeles Kings at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  February 12, 2011, 12:30 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-5-1-0

Caps Game 56 Record: 19-11-4-0

All-Time vs. LA: 34-51-13-0

All-Time at home vs. LA: 19-22-7-0

Last Season vs. LA: 0-1-0

Last Meeting: 1/2/10, WAS 1 LA 2

Season Series: 0-0-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 29-16-10

Standings Points: 68

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 2/8/11, WAS 0 SAN 2

Streak: Loss 1

LA Record: 29-22-3

Standings Points: 61

Division Rank: 5th

Conference Rank: 10th    

Last Game: 2/10/11, LA 1 PIT 2 (OT)

Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 CHIMERA

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

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE

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

San Jose

Forward Line 1: 12 LOKTIONOV, 11 KOPITAR, 23 BROWN

Forward Line 2: 94 SMYTH, 28 STOLL, 14 WILLIAMS

Forward Line 3: 13 CLIFFORD, 26 HANDZUS, 17 SIMMONDS

Forward Line 4: 27 PONIKAROVSKY, 22 LEWIS, 19 WESTGARTH

Defense Pair 1: 33 MITCHELL, 8 DOUGHTY

Defense Pair 2: 3 JOHNSON, 7 SCUDERI

Defense Pair 3: 53 MARTINEZ, 2 GREENE

Goalie: 32 QUICK

Back-up Goalie: 45 BERNIER

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 16 FEHR (upper body) IR

LA – STURM (lower body) IR, PARSE (hip) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 5 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 5 assists to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

With a lackluster performance against San Jose, the Capitals will try to rebound against the LA Kings on Saturday afternoon. The will need to put on a good effort as the Kings boast some really good goalies and with the Capitals poor shooting percentage they will need to focus on keeping the puck in the offensive zone. The Caps expect Mike Green to be back after taking a puck to the head in the game against Pittsburgh. With his addition and the return of Alexander Semin the Cap should bring more offense to the game. Look for both teams to try and set the pace early. I expect the Capitals to press the offense right off the bat and get on the board first. If they succeed they will win going away.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 LA 1

Official Preview