Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
When: March 9, 2008, 12:30 PM
History:
Caps Record on this Date: 9-8-0-0
Caps Game 70 Record: 13-13-4-1
All-Time vs. PIT: 76-85-16-3
Last Season vs. PIT: 0-3-1
Last Meeting: 1/21/08, WAS 6 PIT 5
This Year:
WAS Record: 32-29-8
Standings Points: 72
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 10th
Last Game: 3/9/08, WAS 1 BOS 2
Streak: Loss 1
PIT Record: 38-24-7
Standings Points: 83
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 2nd
Last Game: 3/6/08, PIT 2 FLA 5
Streak: Loss 1
Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 28 SEMIN, 91 FEDOROV, 21 LAICH
Forward Line 3: 24 COOKE, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 14 FEHR
Defense Pair 1: 26 MORRISONN, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 55 SCHULTZ, 4 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 23 JURCINA, 4 ERSKINE
Goalie: 37 KOLZIG, 33 HUET
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON
Pittsburgh
Forward Line 1: 12 MALONE, 71 MALKIN, 17 SYKORA
Forward Line 2: 9 DUPUIS, 87 CROSBY, 18 HOSSA
Forward Line 3: 37 RUUTU, 25 TALBOT, 27 LARAQUE
Forward Line 4: 38 TAFFE, 11 STAAL, 48 KENNEDY
Defense Pair 1: 55 GONCHAR, 44 ORPIK
Defense Pair 2: 2 GILL, 58 LETANG
Defense Pair 3: 4 SCUDERI, 19 WHITNEY
Goalie: 35 CONKLIN
Back-up Goalie: 29 FLEURY
Injuries:
Washington – 17 CLARK (groin) DTD, 92 NYLANDER (shoulder) IR, 2 POTHIER (head) IR, 39 STECKEL (broken finger)
Pittsburgh – 3 EATON (knee) DTD, 10 ROBERTS (leg fracture) IR, 16 HALL (sports hernia) IR, 24 BEECH (broken wrist) IR, 11 STAAL (bruised ribs) DTD
Caps Milestones:
Tom Poti needs 2 Shots on Goal to reach 1,100 for his career
Alex Ovechkin needs 6 Goals to reach 60 for this season
Alex Ovechkin needs 7 points to reach 100 for this season
Alex Ovechkin needs 9 Points to reach 300 for his career
Preview:
The Capitals lost out on two potential standings points against Boston as the Caps were called for 5 penalties in the final eight minutes leading two Boston 5-on-3 goals and giving them a 2-1 win. The Caps were pretty upset with the end of the game so look for them to take it out on the Pens. It’s going to be a very physical game as the Caps need to scratch out every point they can to get into playoff position. The Pens should have their 1st liners back so it will be important not to give them unnecessary power plays. The Caps power play got on the board again against Boston and has connected for 11 goals in their last 10 games. Both teams always get up for this one but I think the Caps will have more fire than the Pens.
Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 PIT 3
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