Game #51 Preview: Washington Capitals at Atlanta Thrashers

Where: Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA

When:  January 26, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 10-7-2-0

Caps Game 51 Record: 21-9-4-0

All-Time vs. ATL: 36-21-5-5

All-Time at ATL: 14-13-2-4

Last Season vs. ATL: 6-0-0

Last Meeting: 12/4/10, WAS 1 ATL 3

Season Series: 2-3-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 27-14-9

Standings Points: 63

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 1/24/11, WAS 1 NYR 2 (OT-SO)

Streak: Loss 1

ATL Record: 23-19-9

Standings Points: 55

Division Rank: 3rd

Conference Rank: 8th    

Last Game: 1/23/11, ATL 1 TAM 7

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 85 PERRAULT, 22 KNUBLE  

Forward Line 3: 26 HENDRICKS, 90 JOHANSSON, 83 BEAGLE

Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 15 GORDON, 39 STECKEL

Defense Pair 1: 52 GREEN, 55 SCHULTZ

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 23 HANNAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Atlanta

Forward Line 1: 19 MODIN, 47 PEVERLY, 18 BERGFORS

Forward Line 2: 45 CORMIER, 10 LITTLE, 22 STEWART

Forward Line 3: 27 THORBURN, 8 BURMISTROV, 36 BOULTON

Forward Line 4: 15 DAWES, 14 STAPLETON, 80 ANTROPOV

Defense Pair 1: 33 BYFUGLIEN, 29 ODUYA

Defense Pair 2: 4 BOGOSIAN, 6 HAINSEY

Defense Pair 3: 24 MEYER, 3 SOPEL

Goalie: 31 PAVELEC

Back-up Goalie: 34 MANNINO

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 10 BRADLEY (broken finger) IR, 28 SEMIN (hip) DTD, 16 FEHR (upper body) DTD, 30 NEUVIRTH (lower body) DTD

NYR – 16 LADD (lower body) DTD, 39 ENSTROM (hand) DTD, 50 MASON (knee) IR, 23 SLATER (concussion) IR

Caps Milestones:

Scott Hannan will play in NHL career game #800.

Jason Chimera needs 5 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 7 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 8 assists to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

In their final game before the All-Star break, the Capitals head down to Atlanta to take on the Thrashers in the last meeting of the regular season for the two Southeast Division rivals. Washington needs to win if they want to keep pace with the SE Division leading Tampa Bay. Atlanta has dropped its last three and trail the Caps by 8 points in the Division race. So far this season the Thrashers have had the Capitals number winning 3 of the previous 5 games. Washington will need another hardworking effort if they want to come away with the two points as the team has had major trouble putting up offense. The defense has been very good lately surrendering only 34 goals in the last 18 games. The penalty kill has been exceptional giving up only 6 power play goals against in those same 18 games and 3 of those came with the Caps having only 3 defenders. Look for the Capitals to press the offense a little more as Alex Ovechkin is showing signs of returning to his usual self. He has 6 points in his last 4 games and has scored more goals (30) and points (63) against Atlanta than any other opponent he has faced. I think the Caps will get a good start and an early lead and let the defense take over for the win.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 ATL 2

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