Game #8 Preview: Washington Capital vs. Atlanta Thrashers

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  October 23, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 5-8-4-0

Caps Game 8 Record: 13-17-5-0

All-Time vs. ATL: 34-18-5-5

All-Time home vs. ATL: 20-7-3-1

Last Season vs. ATL: 6-0-0

Last Meeting: 10/8/10, WAS 2 ATL 4

This Year:

WAS Record: 4-3-0

Standings Points: 8

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 6th      

Last Game: 10/21/10, WAS 1 BOS 4

Streak: Loss 2

ATL Record: 3-4-0

Standings Points: 6

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 9th    

Last Game: 10/22/10, ATL 2 TAM 5

Streak: Loss 2

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 14 FLEISCHMANN, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 39 STECKEL, 26 HENDRICKS

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Atlanta

Forward Line 1: 9 KANE, 49 BURMISTROV, 27 THORBURN

Forward Line 2: 21 EAGER, 80 ANTROPOV, 47 PEVERLEY

Forward Line 3: 16 LADD, 10 LITTLE, 22 STEWART

Forward Line 4: 19 MODIN, 23 SLATER, 36 BOULTON

Defense Pair 1: 33 BYFUGLIEN, 39 ENSTROM

Defense Pair 2: 24 MEYER, 29 ODUYA

Defense Pair 3: 6 HAINSEY, 3 SOPEL

Goalie: 50 MASON

Back-up Goalie: 34 MANNINO

Injuries:

Washington – 10 BRADLEY (lower body) DTD, 15 GORDON (undisclosed) DTD, 52 GREEN (upper body) DTD

Atlanta – 31 PAVELEC (concussion) IR, 4 BOGOSIAN (undisclosed) DTD

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 8 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich will play his 400^th game as a Capital.

Brooks Laich needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin 6 shots on goal to reach

Preview:

After dropping two consecutive games to the Boston Bruins, the Capitals will try to rebound tonight at home versus the Atlanta Thrashers. The Caps lost the season opener in Atlanta earlier this month and have to put on a better effort to beat the Thrasher tonight. The team has gotten away from its systems and everyone is trying to win as individuals. This doesn’t work in the NHL. Look for the team to get back to its base game of getting the puck in deep with an aggressive forecheck to force the defense into mistakes its own end. Also the special teams play was disastrous in the last game, so look for a more direct approach on the power play. I think the Capitals will put in a very workman like effort and get back in the winning column.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ATL 1

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