Game 16 Preview: Capitals Host Devils

My apologies - I wanted to get this up much earlier, however, work kept me busy today. This will be much shorter than planned, but wanted to post a brief review in Dave's absence.


The Washington Capitals (9-4-2-20) host the New Jersey Devils (7-6-2-16) at the Verizon Center at 7:00 PM. Tonight is the Caps' eighth home game and 16th overall and hold a two-point edge in the Southwest Division standings entering tonight's game. The Devils stand in third in the Northeast Division after three straight losses. Tonight marks NJ's lone road game in a stretch of six games.

Both teams will be without their starting goalies. Caps goalie Brent Johnson was voted as the number three star of the week for his performances Nov. 3-9 with Stats: 2 W, 1.63 GAA, .953 SV%. Johnson left the game on Wednesday in Carolina with an injury and is day-to-day and may be able to back-up Jose Theodore tonight.

The Devils will be without their All-Star Goalie Martin Brodeur who underwent surgery last Thursday to repair the distal bicep in his left elbow. "According to the doctors, his surgery was 100 percent successful," Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said in a statement. "The timetable for his return remains three to four months."


TONIGHT IS COACH BRUCE BOUDREAU BOBBLEHEAD NIGHT! They will go to the first 15,000 fans in attendance and feature coach holding the Jack Adams Award as the 2007-08 NHL coach of the year.
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INJURIES

WAS: D Brian Potheir (Out indefinitely); D Shaone Morrisonn (groin/DTD/OUT); C/D Sergei Federov (DTD/OUT); G Brent Johnson (DTD)

NJD: G Martin Brodeur (elbow); D Andy Greene (hand); C Bobby Holik (pinky); LW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond (cracked orbital bone); D Paul Marti; C Brian Rolston (ankle)
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CAPS NOTES - The Capitals signed 2008 first-round draft John Carlson (D) to a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday. The 18-year-old Carlson was the 27th overall pick. He is in his first season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League.