Game #12 Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington DC

When:  November 2, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-8-1-0

Caps Game 12 Record: 10-21-4-0

All-Time vs. TOR: 55-49-10-4

All-Time Home vs. TOR: 35-21-4-1

Last Season vs. TOR: 2-1-1

Last Meeting: 1/15/10, WAS 6 TOR 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 7-4-0

Standings Points: 14

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 4th      

Last Game: 10/30/10, WAS 7 CAL 2

Streak: Win 1

TOR Record: 5-5-1

Standings Points: 11

Division Rank: 3rd

Conference Rank: 9th    

Last Game: 11/2/10, TOR 2 OTT 3

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 21 LAICH, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 15 GORDON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 10 BRADLEY, 39 STECKEL, 26 HENDRICKS

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Toronto

Forward Line 1: 33 CAPUTI, 42 BOZAK, 81 KESSEL

Forward Line 2: 16 MACARTHUR, 84 GRABOVSKI, 32 VERSTEEG

Forward Line 3: 11 SJOSTROM, 37 BRENT, 41 KULEMIN

Forward Line 4: 18 BROWN, 20 HANSON, 28 ORR

Defense Pair 1: 3 PHANEUF, 22 BEAUCHEMIN

Defense Pair 2: 3 SCHENN, 15 KABERLE

Defense Pair 3: 8 KOMISEREK, 36 GUNNARSSON

Goalie: 35 GIGUERE

Back-up Goalie: 50 GUSTVASSON

Injuries:

Washington – 1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) DTD, 90 JOHANSSON (hip flexor) DTD

Toronto – 9 ARMSTRONG (finger) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 5 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 5 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals return to Washington after winning 2 of 3 on the road last week. Following another dreadful start in Calgary, the Caps turned in a 6-spot in the second period and ran away with a 7-2 victory. The team will try to build on the momentum when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have been up a down this season but always give the Caps a tough game. The Leafs will be on the back half of back-to-back games following a 3-2 loss to Ottawa at home last night. Look for the Caps try and even out their start and get on the board first. Washington has scored only 5 first period goals in the 11 games this season. Goalie Michael Nuevith was named the Rookie of the month for October and has been rock solid in net. I think this game will start out extremely physical with both teams trying to send a message but the Capitals overall talent should give them the edge. Ovechkin is starting to heat up so I would hate to be in goal for the Leafs.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 TOR 1

Official Preview