Game #63 Wshington Capitals vs. New Jersey Devils

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When: February 24, 2008, 3:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 6-4-4-0
Caps Game 63 Record: 12-15-3-1
All-Time vs. NJ: 69-55-8-5
Last Season vs. NJ: 1-3-0
Last Meeting: 12/12/07, WAS 3 NJ 2

This Year:
WAS Record: 28-27-7
Standings Points: 63
Division Rank: 2^nd
Conference Rank: 11^th
Last Game: 2/23/08, WAS 3 CAR 6
Streak: Loss 2

NJ Record: 36-21-5
Standings Points: 77
Division Rank: 1^st
Conference Rank: 2^nd
Last Game: 2/23/08, NJ 4 NYI 2
Streak: Won 4

Game 1: 12/7/07, WAS 2 NJ 3
Game 2: 12/12/07, WAS 3 NJ 2

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 43 FLEISCHMANN
Forward Line 2: 28 SEMIN, 25 KOZLOV, 18 PETTINGER
Forward Line 3: 53 LAING, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 21 LAICH
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 23 JURCINA, 4 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 44 EMINGER
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

New Jersey
Forward Line 1: 20 PANDOLFO, 11 MADDEN, 14 GIONTA
Forward Line 2: 26 ELIAS, 16 ZUBRUS, 15 LANGENBRUNNER
Forward Line 3: 9 PARISE, 18 BRYLIN, 23 CLARKSON
Forward Line 4: 17 RUPP, 19 ZAJAC, 22 ASHAM
Defense Pair 1: 6 GREENE, 8 BROOKBANK
Defense Pair 2: 7 MARTIN, 27 MOTTAU
Defense Pair 3: 29 ODUYA, 5 WHITE
Goalie: 30 BRODEUR
Back-up Goalie: 1 WEEKES

Injuries:
Washington – 17 CLARK (groin) DTD, 92 NYLANDER (shoulder) IR, 2 POTHIER (head) IR, 55 SCHULTZ (knee) DTD
New Jersey – 25 JANSSEN (shoulder) IR

Caps Milestones:
Donald Brashear needs 2 Points to reach 200 for his career
Matt Pettinger needs 1 Point to reach 100 for his career
Tom Poti needs 12 Shots on Goal to reach 1,100 for his career

Preview:
The Caps took it on the chin last night falling to Carolina 6-3. The Caps gave up 4 power play goals and are now 6 points out of the SE Division lead and 5 points out of the final playoff spot. Simply put the Caps need to win. There are 20 games remaining and if they don’t put a run together they are going to be on the golf course on April 6^th. They have a tough test today in the New Jersey Devils. The Devils have won 4 straight and are 1 point out of the Eastern Conference lead. Look for the Caps to come out strong early and try to get last night’s taste out of their mouths. This should be a very physical game with the Caps getting close to desperation mode. I am hoping for the best but fearing for the worst.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 NJ 1

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