Game #18 Wahington Capitals at Anaheim Ducks

Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, CA

When: November 19, 2008, 10:00 PM

History:
Caps Record on this Date: 5-6-3-0
Caps Game 18 Record: 6-21-5-1
All-Time vs. ANA: 7-12-1-0
All-Time at ANA: 3-6-1-0
Last Season vs. ANA: Did not play
Last Meeting: 12/8/06, WAS 1 ANA 6

This Year:
WAS Record: 10-4-3
Standings Points: 23
Division Rank: 1st
Conference Rank: 3rd
Last Game: 11/15/08, WAS 5 NJ 6 (OT-SO)
Streak: Loss 1

ANA Record: 10-7-2
Standings Points: 22
Division Rank: 2nd
Conference Rank: 4th
Last Game: 11/16/08, ANA 2 LA 0
Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:
Washington
Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 KOZLOV
Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 92 NYLANDER, 16 FEHR
Forward Line 3: 21 LAICH, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY
Forward Line 4: 87 BRASHEAR, 15 GORDON, 17 CLARK
Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN
Defense Pair 2: 89 SLOAN, 3 POTI
Defense Pair 3: 23 JURCINA, 4 ERSKINE
Goalie: 60 THEODORE
Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Anaheim
Forward Line 1: 14 KUNITZ, 15 GETZLAF, 10 PERRY
Forward Line 2: 32 MOEN, 7 MORRISON, 8 SALANNE
Forward Line 3: 24 MAY, 26 PAHLSSON, 54 RYAN
Forward Line 4: 20 CARTER, 44 NIEDERMAYER, 16 PARROS
Defense Pair 1: 25 PRONGER, 27 NIEDERMAYER
Defense Pair 2: 53 FEASTERLING, 3 HEDICAN
Defense Pair 3: 40 HUSKINS, 5 MONTADOR
Goalie: 35 GIGUERE
Back-up Goalie: 1 HILLER

Injuries:
Washington – 2 POTHIER (concussion) IR, 26 MORRISONN (groin) DTD, 91 FEDOROV (undisclosed) DTD, 28 SEMIN (upper body) DTD
Anaheim – 23 BEAUCHEMIN (knee) IR, 29 LARSON (hernia) IR

Caps Milestones:
Nicklas Backstrom will play in his 100th career NHL game.
Matt Bradley needs 4 points to reach 100 in his career.
Chris Clark needs 8 penalty minutes to reach 600 in his career.
Viktor Kozlov needs 3 shots on goal to reach 2,100 in his career.

Preview:
An injury depleted Capitals team heads to Anaheim to face a really good Ducks team. With Alexander Semin, Sergei Fedorov and Shoane Morrisonn all questionable to the game, the Caps need to play within their system and get some secondary scoring from the third and fourth lines. The defense needs to step up and work hard to get the puck out of the Cap’s zone. The Ducks play a forechecking game and New Jersey really hurt the Caps with sustained pressure in the defensive zone. Look for the Caps to try and get a start fast. Their style is much more effective when they have a lead and force the opposition to chase their skill. Watch the first line again as Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin were named the first and second Stars of the Week by the NHL for their work in the last four games. The two combined for 21 points in the four games. This one should be close and very physical and don’t forget the Donald, who should drop the gloves early with George Parros.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ANA 2

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