Game #75 Preview: Washington Capitals at Ottawa Senators

Where: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa Ontario

When:  March 25, 2011, 7:30 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 12-4-2-1

Caps Game 74 Record: 14-16-2-2

All-Time vs. OTT: 34-28-5-3

All-Time at OTT: 14-17-1-2

Last Season vs. OTT: 1-1-2

Last Meeting: 1/18/11, WAS 2 PHI 3 (OT)

Season Series: 3-0-0

This Year:

WAS Record: 43-21-10

Standings Points: 96

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd

Last Game: 3/22/11, WAS 5 PHI 4 (OT-SO)

Streak: Won 2

OTT Record: 28-37-9

Standings Points: 65

Division Rank: 5th

Conference Rank: 15th    

Last Game: 3/24/11, OTT 2 NYR 1 (OT-SO)

Streak: Won 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 21 LAICH, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 18 STURM, 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 83 BEAGLE, 16 FEHR

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

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 6 WIDEMAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 23 HANNAN, 4 ERSKINE

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Ottawa

Forward Line 1: 52 GREENING, 19 SPEZZA, 16 BUTLER

Forward Line 2: 38 CONDRA, 26 SHANNON, 10 SVATOS

Forward Line 3: 71 FOLIGNO, 15 SMITH, 25 NEIL

Forward Line 4: 49 LESSARD, 18 WINCHESTER, 43 WICK

Defense Pair 1: 4 PHILLIPS, 5 LEE

Defense Pair 2: 17 KUBA, 46 WIERCIOCH

Defense Pair 3: 36 HALE, 65 KARLSSON

Goalie: 41 ANDERSON

Back-up Goalie: 31 MCELHINNEY

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, (upper body) IR, 52 GREEN (head) IR, 8 OVECHKIN (undisclosed) DTD, 44 ARNOTT (undisclosed) DTD

OTT – LECLAIRE (lowing body) IR, MICHALEK (broken foot) IR, GONCHAR (concussion) IR, REGIN (shoulder) IR, ALFREDSSON (back) IR, CARKNER (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Arnott needs 2 goals to reach 400 in his career.

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

Alex Ovechkin needs 2 goals to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

With a shootout victory over the first place Philadelphia Flyer the Capitals captured a spot in the post season for the fourth consecutive season. With several of their top players on the injured list the Caps are looking for the rest of the team to step up. And one player that has been doing just that has been Mike Knuble. He’s definitely not flashy but the big winger has racked up 6 points in the last 2 games. In Ottawa they will face a team that has absolutely nothing to lose and have been pulling of upsets left and right. They are a young bunch and the key for the Capitals is to get on the scoreboard early and make the Sens realize they are playing the number two team in the Eastern Conference. Look for a very fast pace early with lots of physical play. Watch for Alexander Semin to exert his presents in this game. His shootout winner in Philly was a thing of beauty and I see him building confidence off of it. I think the Caps will pull away in the second period and cruise to a win.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 5 OTT 2

Official Preview