About the Capitals - 2-22-09
A preview of the Capitals.
When and where: Verizon Center, 12:30 p.m.
TV: NBC
Record: 37-17-5, 79 points. Washington is in first place in the Southeast Division and second place in the Eastern Conference.
Leading Scorer: Alex Ovechkin, 75 points, 42 goals, 33 assists.
Last Game: 4-1 home loss to the Avalanche, Friday. Nicklas Backstrom scored Washington's only goal.
Last Game against the Penguins: 6-3 road win, Jan. 14. Miroslav Satan had a goal and an assist.
Capitals Player We Would Bet Money On Scoring: Ovechkin. We don't have any sort of chart or list that says he has this many goals this many games. He's just that good.
Ex-Penguins on the Capitals: Matt Bradley, RW.
Ex-Capitals on the Penguins: Matt Cooke, LW; Sergei Gonchar, D.
Useless Capitals Trivia: The first penalty shot attempt of Jaromir Jagr's career was against Capitals goaltender Don Beaupre (above, right). Beaupre made the save but lost on the road, 6-3. (We wanted an excuse to use a Don Beaupre picture.)
Best Capitals YouTube Video We Could Find: A line brawl between the Capital and Jets from many seasons ago. At one point, former Penguins defensemen Randy Carlyle, then of Winnipeg and Kevin Hatcher, then of Washington, go at it one on one:
Notes:
-Jose Theodore (22-11-3, 2.81 GAA, .899 SV%) is expected to get the start in net for Washington. After yesterday's game, Dan Bylsma was undecided between Marc-Andre Fleury (21-15-4, 2.87 GAA, .909 SV%) and Mathieu Garon (6-9-0, 3.30 GAA, 898. SV%).
-Sergei Gonchar must have Capitals defenseman Mike Green in his fantasy league or something.
-Capitals we won't see today are forward Chris Clark (wrist), goaltender Brent Johnson (hip), and defenseman Brian Pothier (concussion). Forward Viktor Kozlov is day-to-day with a groin injury.
-After Friday's loss, Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau went all Herb Brooks on his team.
-Did the Penguins pull a Boudreau when they promoted Dan Bylsma?
-If you're going to the game today, regardless of who you're rooting for, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis would like you to sing the national anthem.
-Thankfully this is the last regular season Penguins broadcast NBC can dig its souless corporate fingers into. Games at 12:30 p.m.? Who ever thought that was a good idea?
-Our live blog begins at approximately 12:30 p.m. Please tune in.
(Photo: Japers' Rink)