Game #33 Preview: Anaheim Duck at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  December 15, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

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

Caps Game 33 Record: 18-11-6-0

All-Time vs. ANA: 9-12-1-0

All-Time at home vs. ANA: 5-6-0-0

Last Season vs. ANA: 1-0-0

Last Meeting: 1/27/10, WAS 5 ANA 1

This Year:

WAS Record: 18-11-3

Standings Points: 39

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 12/12/10, WAS 0 NYR 9

Streak: Loss 6

ANA Record: 16-13-4

Standings Points: 36

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 6th    

Last Game: 12/12/10, ANA 6 MIN 2

Streak: Win 2

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, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

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

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 3 POTI

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 44 FAHEY, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Anaheim

Forward Line 1: 9 RYAN, 15 GETZLAF, 10 PERRY

Forward Line 2: 33 BLAKE, 63 BONINO, 16 PARROS

Forward Line 3: 19 LUPUL, 22 MARCHANT, 42 SEXTON

Forward Line 4: 64 MCMILLAN, 11 KOIVU, 8 SELANNE

Defense Pair 1: 4 FOWLER, 17 VISNOVSKY

Defense Pair 2: 23 MARA, 32 LYDMAN

Defense Pair 3: 25 SUTTON, 21 BROOKBANK

Goalie: 1 HILLER

Back-up Goalie: 31 MCELHINNEY

Injuries:

Washington – 52 GREEN (illness) DTD, 55 SCHULTZ (broken thumb) IR, 89 SLOAN (hip flexor) IR, 15 GORDON (lower body) IR, 17 KING (undisclosed) IR

ANA – 34 VOROS (broken orbital bone) IR, 29 JAFFRAY (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

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

Mike Knuble needs 5 points to reach 500 in his career.

Nicklas Backstrom needs 9 points to reach 300 in his career.

Matt Bradley 1 PIM to reach 500 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 1 shot on goal to reach 2,300 in his career.

Preview:

After a humbling 7-0 loss to the New York Rangers that saw team Captain Alex Ovechkin drop the gloves in an attempt to rally his mates, the Washington Capitals will try to get back to their winning ways. Standing in their way is a tough Western Conference opponent in the Anaheim Ducks who want to deal Washington its 7th consecutive loss. For the Caps, the key is to get back to the fundamental hockey and hard work. A lot of the pundits are calling for a coaching change but I think that is a little premature. Other than the playoffs last season, this Caps team has not been in this situation and they need to learn how to fight their way through it. To pull the rug out now would be detrimental to the chemistry of the team. I think that Washington will put together a solid effort and get back to what we and they know they can do. Watch for the Ducks to swarm the Capitals in the early going and if the boys can weather that storm you will see them build confidence and come roaring back. It should be an exciting game. Let’s Go Caps!

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 ANA 1

Official Preview