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Friday, October 7, 2011

Opening Night 2011-12 Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  October 8, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           
Caps Record on this Date: 4-8-0-0
Caps Game 1 Record: 17-17-2-0
All-Time vs. CAR: 41-23-7-6
All-Time at home vs. CAR: 23-11-2-2
Last Season vs. CAR: 5-0-1
Last Meeting: 3/29/11, WAS 1 CAR 2 OT-SO

This Year:
WAS Record: 0-0-0
Standings Points: 0

CAR Record: 0-0-0
Standings Points: 0

Probable Line-Ups:     
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE
Forward Line 2: 20 BROWER, 90 JOHANSSON, 28 SEMIN
Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 21 LAICH, 42 WARD
Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 15 HALPERN, BEAGLE
Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON
Defense Pair 3: 6 WIDEMAN, 44 HAMRLIK
Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH
Back-up Goalie: 29 VOKOUN

Carolina
Forward Line 1: 15 RUUTU, 12 STAAL, 36 JOKINEN
Forward Line 2: 23 PONIKAROVSKY, 53 SKINNER, 22 DALPE
Forward Line 3: 19 TLUSTY, 16 SUTTER, 59 LAROSE
Forward Line 4: 39 DWYER, 37 BRENT, 13 STEWART
Defense Pair 1: 6 GLEASON, 25 PITKANEN
Defense Pair 2: 28 FAULK, 51 KABERLE
Defense Pair 3: 5 ALLEN, 4 MCBAIN
Goalie: 30 WARD
Back-up Goalie: 33 BOUCHER

Injuries:
Washington – 3 POTI (groin) LTIR, 4 ERSKINE (upper body) IR

CAR – None

Caps Milestones:
Jason Chimera needs 2 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals start a new season at home against SE Division rival Carolina. The Caps look a bit different this season as new players were brought in after last season’s second round playoff exit. Washington brought in veteran free agents all over the lineup. The biggest surprise was picking up stand out goaltender Tomas Vokoun after trading Semyon Varlamov to Colorado. He took a pay cut to come to Washington because he wants to win and that’s what we fans love to hear. Look for this game to start off fast. Carolina will be in the second half of back-to-backs so the Caps need to match their energy to start and turn in up in the second period. I think Carolina will have a tough chore trying to beat the Caps at home on opening night.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 CAR 2

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