Game #31 Preview: Colorado Avalanche at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  December 11, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 8-4-2-1

Caps Game 31 Record: 15-14-6-0

All-Time vs. COL: 9-7-2-1

All-Time Home vs. COL: 5-2-1-1

Last Season vs. COL: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 12/15/09, WAS 6 COL 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 18-9-3

Standings Points: 39

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 12/9/10, WAS 0 FLA 3

Streak: Loss 4

COL Record: 14-10-4

Standings Points: 32

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 10th    

Last Game: 12/10/10, COL 4 ATL 2

Streak: Win 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERRAULT, 28 SEMIN

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

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 90 JOHANSSON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 44 FAHEY, 3 POTI

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Colorado

Forward Line 1: 18 YIP, 26 STASTNY, 54 JONES

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 9 DUCHENE, 23 HEJDUK

Forward Line 3: 34 WINNIK, 37 O’REILLY, 12 PORTER

Forward Line 4: 55 MCLEOD, 11 DUPUIS, 20 MAULDIN

Defense Pair 1: 4 LILES, 3 O’BYRNE

Defense Pair 2: 27 QUINCEY, 8 SHATTENKIRK

Defense Pair 3: 48 HUNWICK, 52 FOOTE

Goalie: 41 ANDERSON

Back-up Goalie: 31 BUDAJ

Injuries:

Washington – 4 ERSKINE (lower body) DTD, 55 SCHULTZ (broken Thumb) IR, 89 SLOAN (hip flexor) IR

COL – 25 STEWART (hand) IR, 7 VAN DER GULIK (knee) IR, 39 GALIARDI (wrist) IR, 10 CUMISKEY (head) IR, 88 MUELLER (concussion) IR

Caps Milestones:

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

Mike Knuble needs 7 points to reach 500 in his career.

Preview:

Well, going in to last game I thought the Caps were going to break out of their current slump and give Florida a good beating. As it turned out, Washington was the team taken behind the woodshed. Tonight the Colorado Avalanche come to town and the Washington hockey club will attempt to salvage the last game of a horrible 4-game home stand. I expect this game to be very tight at the beginning with the Caps still in a bit of shell shock over their most recent performances. They need to get on the board early to start building their confidence. Of course new Avalanche and former Capitals forward Tomas Fleischmann would like nothing better than to place a dagger in the heart of the team that just traded him. Hopefully, Scott Hannan has given his new mates the rundown on his old team as well. The back end must have suffered more damage last game as Brian Fahey was recalled from Hershey yesterday. Look for this game to be a tight, simple hockey game with lots of grinding. I expect the Caps to break through in the second period and get back on the winning track.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 COL 2

Official Preview