Playoff Round 2 Game #3 Preview: Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning

Where: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL

When:  May 3, 2011, 6:30 PM

History:           

All-Time Playoff Series Record vs. TAM: 0-1

All-Time Playoff Game Record vs. TAM: 2-6

Last Meeting: 2003, WAS 2 TAM 4

This Year:

WAS Record: 48-22-11

Standings Points: 107

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st

TAM Record: 46-25-11

Standings Points: 103

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th    

2010-2011 Regular Season Series: 4-1-1

Nov. 11, 2010 WAS 6 TAM 3

Nov. 26, 2010 WAS 6 TAM 0

Jan. 4, 2011 WAS 0 TAM 1 (OT)

Jan. 12, 2011 WAS 0 TAM 3

Feb. 4, 2011 WAS 5 TAM 2

Mar. 7, 2011 WAS 2 TAM 1 (OT-SO)

Playoff Series Schedule and Results:

Apr. 29, 2011 WAS 2 TAM 4

May 01, 2011 WAS 2 TAM 3 (OT)

May 03, 2011 at Tampa

May 04, 2011 at Tampa

May 07, 2011 at Washington*

May 09, 2011 at Tampa*

May 11, 2011 at Washington*

*If required

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 44 ARNOTT, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 18 STURM, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 23 HANNAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Tampa

Forward Line 1: 6 MALONE, 91 STAMKOS, 9 DOWNIE

Forward Line 2: 16 PURCELL, 4 LECAVALIER, 26 ST. LOUIS

Forward Line 3: 49 B. JONES, 19 MOORE, 10 BERGENHEIM

Forward Line 4: 18 HALL, 44 THOMPSON

Defense Pair 1: 2 BREWER, 5 OHLUND

Defense Pair 2: 7 CLARK, 39 LUNDIN

Defense Pair 3: 8 R. JONES, 77 HEDMAN

Defense Pair 4: 47 BERGERON

Goalie: 35 ROLOSON

Back-up Goalie: 41 SMITH

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, 6 WIDEMAN (lower body) DTD, 22 KNUBLE (hand) DTD

TAM – 12 GAGNE (undisclosed) DTD, 13 KUBINA (undisclosed) DTD

Preview:

The Capitals head to Tampa for a must win in Game #3. Tampa leads the series 2-0 and the Capitals have yet to come through on the power play. They have gone 0 for 11 in the first two games and this has been the difference as the Bolts have converted one power play in each game. The Lightning have played a conservative trapping game and depended on strong goaltending to eke out two wins in Washington. I expect a much better game from the Capitals in Game #3. They need to settle down on the penalties and focus on retrieving the puck. This will be another tight low scoring game but look at the battles along the boards as an indicator of how this one will end up. Look for the Caps to convert on their power play chances and play a much cleaner day. With their backs against the wall I think Alex Ovechkin is due for a breakout game.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 2 TAM 1

Official Preview