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.