Game #40 Preview: The Winter Classic - Washington Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins

Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, PA

When:  January 1, 2011, 1:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 14-6-3-1

Caps Game 40 Record: 14-17-3-1

All-Time vs. PIT: 83-86-16-5

All-Time at PIT: 34-51-7-1

Last Season vs. PIT: 4-0-0

Last Meeting: 12/23/10, WAS 2 PIT 3 (OT-SO)

This Year:

WAS Record: 22-12-5

Standings Points: 49

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 12/28/10, WAS 3 MON 0

Streak: Win 2

PIT Record: 25-11-3

Standings Points: 53

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st    

Last Game: 12/29/10, PIT 1 NYI 2

Streak: Loss 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, 90 JOHANSSON, 14 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 83 BEAGLE, 39 STECKEL

Defense Pair 1: 52 GREEN, 23 HANNAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Pittsburgh

Forward Line 1: 14 KUNITZ, 87 CROSBY, 9 DUPUIS

Forward Line 2: 25 TALBOT, 71 MALKIN, 24 COOKE

Forward Line 3: 18 CONNER, 10 LETESTU, 48 KENNEDY

Forward Line 4: 17 RUPP, 27 ADAMS, 45 ASHAM

Defense Pair 1: ORPIK, 58 LETANG

Defense Pair 2: 7 MARTIN, 4 MICHALEK

Defense Pair 3: 3 GOLIGOSKI, 5 ENGELLAND

Goalie: 29 FLEURY

Back-up Goalie: 1 JOHNSON

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (undisclosed) DTD, 15 GORDON (lower body) IR, 17 KING (undisclosed) IR, 10 BRADLEY (broken finger) IR

PIT – COMRIE (lower body) IR, GRANT (wrist, neck) IR, STAAL (foot, hand) IR

Caps Milestones:

Mike Knuble needs 2 points to reach 500 in his career.

Nicklas Backstrom needs 6 points to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

It’s finally here. The Winter Classic with the Capitals travelling to Pittsburgh to take on the Penguins in front of 80,000 fans at the outdoor rink set up at Heinz Field, home of the NFL’s Steelers. The script could not have played out any better for the NHL. The Pens lead the league in standings points and Washington is back playing winning hockey and the two teams played to a standstill a week ago. The Caps are bringing momentum into the game with two good wins over Carolina and Montreal. The defense is settling in nicely with Scott Hannan getting more comfortable with Mike Green and Jeff Schultz return to the lineup. The Caps new defensive systems have been getting better as of late. The team has allowed 11 goals against in their last 7 games and is averaging 16 blocked shots per game in that same stretch. The offense is starting pick up with Alex Ovechkin scoring in two straight and Mike Green with points in 3 consecutive games. Look for the Classic to start with physical action from both teams as they try to send messages early. It should be a tight contest but I am expecting a big game from the Capitals captain and victory for the boys in the white jerseys.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PIT 2

Official Preview