Game #67 Preview: Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning

Where: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL

When:  March 7, 2011, 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 6-7-0-0

Caps Game 67 Record: 17-12-4-1

All-Time vs. TAM: 61-27-6-5

All-Time at TAM: 29-16-2-2

Last Season vs. TAM: 4-2-0

Last Meeting: 2/4/11, WAS 5 TAM 2

Season Series: 3-1-1

This Year:

WAS Record: 36-20-10

Standings Points: 82

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 3rd

Last Game: 3/6/11, WAS 3 FLA 2 (OT)

Streak: Won 4

TAM Record: 37-21-7

Standings Points: 81

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th    

Last Game: 3/5/11, TAM 2 MON 4

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 44 ARNOTT, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3:18 STURM, 90 JOHANSSON, 25 CHIMERA

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 6 WIDEMAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Tampa Bay

Forward Line 1: 26 ST. LOUIS, 91 STAMKOS, 9 DOWNIE

Forward Line 2: 12 GAGNE, 4 LECAVALIER, 16 PURCELL

Forward Line 3: 10 BERGENHEIM, 19 MOORE, 18 HALL

Forward Line 4: 44 THOMPSON, 42 TYRELL, 21 RITOLA

Defense Pair 1: 2 BREWER, 5 OHLUND

Defense Pair 2: 7 CLARK, 77 HEDMAN

Defense Pair 3: 8 JONES, 13 KUBINA

Goalie: 35 ROLOSON

Back-up Goalie: 41 SMITH

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 16 FEHR (upper body) IR, 52 GREEN (head) DTD, 1 VARLAMOV (undisclosed) DTD

TAM – 6 MALONE (body) IR, 39 LUNDIN (body) IR

Caps Milestones:

Brooks Laich needs 2 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Jason Arnott needs 3 goals to reach 400 in his career.

Jason Chimera needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 6 goals to reach 300 in his career.

Jason Arnott needs 1 point to reach 900 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 3 points to reach 600 in his career.

Dennis Wideman needs 2 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

A four game winning streak and seven wins in their last nine games is how the Caps are playing as of late. However, every one of those wins was by one goal and the power play has connected on 3 of 21 chances while the penalty kill has given up 6 on 30 chances in that stretch. The good news is that the Caps are finding ways to win and the addition of Arnott, Wideman, and Sturm has made a good impact following the trade deadline. The face the team they replaced at the top of the SE Division tonight in Tampa. The Bolts are going through a rough patch recently and have lost their last three contests. But remember that this is a rivalry game that will be as intense as any game this season. The teams don’t like one another and it should be a very physical affair. The Capitals can look forward to having Alexander Semin back in the lineup after missing the last two against Tampa. In the first three meeting Semin compiled 6 goals and 2 assists. Look for him to give a big effort tonight. I expect the Caps to surge in this one and start putting some room in the standings between them and Tampa.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 TAM 3

Official Preview