Game #28 Preview: Atlanta Thrashers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  December 4, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

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

Caps Game 28 Record: 15-18-2-0

All-Time vs. ATL: 36-20-5-5

All-Time at home vs. ATL: 22-7-3-1

Last Season vs. ATL: 6-0-0

Last Meeting: 11/19/10, WAS 0 ATL 5

Season Series: 2-2-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 18-7-2

Standings Points: 38

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st      

Last Game: 12/2/10, WAS 1 DAL 2

Streak: Loss 1

ATL Record: 13-10-3

Standings Points: 29

Division Rank: 3rd

Conference Rank: 8th    

Last Game: 12/2/10, ATL 2 PIT 3

Streak: Loss 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 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, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 23 HANNAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Atlanta

Forward Line 1: 9 KANE, 8 BURMISTROV, 10 LITTLE

Forward Line 2: 16 LADD, 47 PEVERLEY, 18 BERGFORS

Forward Line 3: 21 EAGER, 80 ANTROPOV, 22 STEWART

Forward Line 4: 36 BOULTON, 23 SLATER, 27 THORBURN

Defense Pair 1: 33 BYFUGLIEN, 39 ENSTROM

Defense Pair 2: 29 ODUYA, 4 BOGOSIAN

Defense Pair 3: 6 HAINSEY, 3 SOPEL

Goalie: 31 PAVELEC

Back-up Goalie: 50 MASON

Injuries:

Washington – 89 SLOAN (undisclosed) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) DTD

ATL – None

Caps Milestones:

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

Mike Knuble needs 8 points to reach 500 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals return home following a two game Western Conference road trip that saw the Capitals win one and lose one. Now they face the Atlanta Thrashers for the fifth time this season. The teams have won two games apiece with Atlanta blanking the Caps 5-0 in their latest match up. Washington appears to have lost Tom Poti off the defense for the third time this season but newly acquired Scott Hannan played well in his first game with Washington. Look for this game to be tight as the Capitals with need to play a structured game against the Thrashers. The hardworking Atlanta team has given the Capitals fits this season so the Caps better be prepared for a battle all night. I expect a low scoring affair with lots of neutral zone traffic but look for Alex Ovechkin to break out of his goal scoring slump with a big effort.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ATL 1

Official Preview