Game #25 Preview: Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  November 28, 2010 5:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-8-2-1

Caps Game 25 Record: 13-19-2-1

All-Time vs. CAR: 38-23-7-5

All-Time at Home vs. CAR: 21-11-2-1

Last Season vs. CAR: 3-1-2

Last Meeting: 11/24/10, WAS 3 CAR 2

This Year:

WAS Record: 16-6-2

Standings Points: 34

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st      

Last Game: 11/22/10, WAS 0 NJ 5

Streak: Win 2

CAR Record: 10-10-2

Standings Points: 20

Division Rank: 4th

Conference Rank: 9th    

Last Game: 11/27/10, CAR 3 BOS 0

Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 21 LAICH, 19 BACKSTROM, 8 OVECHKIN

Forward Line 2: 28 SEMIN 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE

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

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

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 44 FAHEY

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Carolina

Forward Line 1: 59 LAROSE, 12 STAAL, 39 DWYER

Forward Line 2: 14 SAMSONOV, 16 SUTTER, 53 SKINNER

Forward Line 3: 15 RUUTU, 19 TLUSTY, 20 BODIE

Forward Line 4: 36 JOKINEN, 29 CARTER, 26 COLE

Defense Pair 1: 6 GLEASON, 77 CORVO

Defense Pair 2: 25 PITKANEN, 7 WHITE

Defense Pair 3: 4 MCBAIN, 44 HARRISON

Goalie: 30 WARD

Back-up Goalie: 60 PETERS

Injuries:

Washington – 52 GREEN (upper body) DTD, 89 SLOAN (undisclosed) IR

CAR – None

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 1 point to reach 200 in his career.

Nicklas Backstrom needs 2 shots on goal to reach 600 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals returned to form shutting out the Tampa Bay Lightning 6-0 on Friday and will try to build more consistency into their game. The Carolina Hurricanes come to Verizon Center fresh off a 3-0 shutout of the Boston Bruins. They will be looking to repay the Caps who beat the Canes in Raleigh four nights ago. Look for the Caps to keep up the physical play as they really threw off Tampa with timely hits. I think the key to game will be the first period and the matchup between the Capitals defense and the speedy Carolina forwards. If the Caps can bottle up the Canes in the neutral zone it will be a good night for the home team. Watch for another big game from Alexander Semin who has lit up the Canes for 23 goals in 31 games.   

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 CAR 2

Official Preview