The Washington Capitals (11-5-3-25) visit the San Jose Sharks (16-3-1-33) at the HP Pavilion at 10:30 PM ET.

The Caps need to step it up tonight as they take on the number one team in the NHL who also has the best home record, 10-0-1. Washington faces the well-rested, Pacific Division-leading San Jose Sharks who hasn't played since Monday. The Caps, who have lost the last five straight in San Jose, take the ice for the third time in four nights following their 5-2 loss at Los Angeles on Thursday.

According to washcaps.com, Mike Green is getting better and is no longer wearing a sling, however, will not play tonight.

_________________________________________________
GOALIE PREDICATIONS:

WAS: Brent Johnson

SJ: Brian Boucher, SJ (Nabokov has been out with an injury, however, could be back tonight as a back-up).

_________________________________________________
WHERE TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE CAPS:

TV: Comcast SportsNetRadio: Caps Radio 1500 & 820
_________________________________________________
INJURIES:

WAS: D Brian Potheir (Consussion/OUT); C/D Sergei Federov (Ankle/Questionable); LW Alexander Semin (Upper body/OUT); D Mike Green (Shoulder/Questionable)

SJ: RW Mike Grier (Lower body/Questionable); C Torrey Mitchell (Leg/OUT); G Evgeni Nabokov (Lower body/Questionable)

Chris Clark to Sign Autographs, Host Q & A at ESPN Zone

Washington Capitals right wing and captain Chris Clark will host a question-and-answer session and sign autographs for fans at ESPN Zone in downtown D.C. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 7 to 8 p.m. Clark, who is in his fourth season in Washington, has 103 points (55g-48a) and 229 penalty minutes in 183 games with the Caps. The South Windsor, Conn., native posted career highs in goals (30), assists (24) and points (54) in 2006-07 with the Capitals.

WHO: Washington Capitals right wing and captain Chris Clark
WHAT: Question-and-answer session, autograph signing at ESPN Zone
WHEN: Tuesday, November 25, 2008, 7- 8 p.m.
WHERE: ESPN Zone, 555 12th Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, 202-783-3776

__________________________________________________________

Courage Caps

Courage Caps will be sold for $20 online at WashingtonCaps.com, at the Fan Gear store and stands throughout Verizon Center at Capitals home games and at the pro shop at Ashburn Ice House, The Gardens Ice House, Kettler Capitals Iceplex, Prince William Ice Center, Rockville Ice Arena, Skate Frederick and SkateQuest Reston. There will also be a limited number of autographed Courage Caps available for sale at WashingtonCaps.com and at the community relations table located behind section 104 on the main concourse at Verizon Center. For $50 fans can purchase a Courage Cap signed by Nicklas Backstrom, Sergei Fedorov, Mike Green, Michael Nylander or Alex Ovechkin; for $35, fans can purchase a Courage Cap signed by any other individual Capitals player. Learn more about this program online.

__________________________________________________________

Click to Win Ticket Winners for Nov. 26

The Washington Capitals have announced another group of winners for the 2008-09 Caps Care Click to Win initiative. Septima Clark Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., Brooke Grove Elementary School in Olney, Md., Poplar Tree Elementary School in Chantilly, Va., and St. John the Evangelist School in Severna Park, Md., were each selected to receive tickets to the Capitals game on Wednesday, Nov. 26, versus the Atlanta Thrashers at Verizon Center. Each school will also receive a $500 grant from Washington Capitals Charities and the school with the highest attendance at the game will receive an additional $1,000 grant.

Caps Care Click to Win is back for its second season, again giving local schools the chance to win free Capitals tickets and cash prizes. The program is part of the team’s commitment to introduce area youth to hockey and to support local schools with charitable contributions.

Between October and March, Washington metropolitan area schools that have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and have registered at WashingtonCaps.com will be entered into a random drawing to receive complimentary game tickets and a $500 grant. The Caps will provide tickets to schools for 10 games at Verizon Center. At the conclusion of the program, the school with the highest attendance rate overall will also receive a player visit and a Capitals team-signed jersey.

To register your school or for more information on Caps Care Click to Win, go to http://WashingtonCaps.com/click-to-win.

The Kings ruled the ice and shut down the Caps, 5-2 and in the process, stopped Ovechkin's goal scoring streak at five straight games. The Kings are one of only three NHL teams that Alex Ovechkin has not scored a goal against. The Capitals face the other two – San Jose and Minnesota – in their next two games.

Nicklas Backstrom lived up to his NHL Star of the Week hype and scored first for the Caps on a power-play goal. Backstrom has scored a goal in four of his past five games after a season-opening 14-game drought.

The Caps only other goal was made by Brooks Laich, his fifth of the season.

Brent Johnson got a workout tonight as L.A. out shot Washington 33-21.

The Caps were missing key players including their leading scorer. Alexander Semin missed his third consecutive game because of an undisclosed upper body injury, Sergi Federov missed his seventh straight due to a sprained ankle and Mike Green missed his first game after being checked hard into the boards by Anaheim's Pronger.

Alexander Ovechkin was a "King for a day" as the Los Angeles Kings proclaimed it "Russian Heritage Night" at Staples Center. Newly inducted Hall of Famer Igor Larionov dropped the a ceremonial first puck between Ovechkin and Alexander Frolov, who are both from Russia.

______________________________________________________
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:

1. D. Brown - LA (Goals: 1, Assists: 1)
2. D. Doughty - LA (Goals: 1, Assists: 0)
3. K. Quincey - LA (Goals: 0, Assists: 1)

______________________________________________________
CAPS NOTES:

Alex Ovechkin has recorded at least one goal and two points in five straight games, matching the longest such streak in Capitals history. Dennis Maruk did the same in 1980-81. Ovechkin's four points last night at Anaheim (1g-3a) marked a season high, and give him 14 points (6g-8a) and a +12 rating in his last five games.
______________________________________________________
NEXT GAME:

The Caps continue California dreamin' on Saturday, November 22 at the San Jose Sharks at 10:30PM ET. The Sharks have not played since Monday.

Congratulations Nicklas on your 100th NHL Game!

And Happy Early 21st Birthday (Nov. 23rd)!

Photo (c) Cheryl Nichols 2008

The Washington Capitals (11-4-3-25) visit the Los Angeles Kings (7-8-2-16) at the Staples Center at 10:30 PM ET.

According to The Washington Post Insider, D Shaone Morrisonn will be playing tonight. He returns to the ice after missing six games because of a groin muscle pull. Mike Green is scheduled for an MRI on his shoulder after being slammed into the wall last night by Anaheim's Pronger.

Brent Johnson will be guarding the net tonight for the Caps, his first start in four games.

_________________________________________________

WHERE TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE CAPS:

TV: Comcast Sports
NetRadio: Caps Radio 1500 & 820
_________________________________________________
INJURIES:

WAS:

D Brian Potheir (Consussion/OUT); C/D Sergei Federov (Ankle/Questionable); LW Alexander Semin (Upper body/OUT); D Mike Green (Shoulder/DTD)

LA: D Jack Johnson (Shoulder/OUT); RW Marc-Andre Cliche (Shoulder/OUT)

THE CAPS WIN!!

The reigning NHL MVP and current NHL second star of the week, Alexander Ovechkin, extended his goal streak to five games and added three assists to help the Caps beat the Anaheim Ducks, 6-4.

Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Green scored less than two minutes apart early in the first period with the man advantage. Nicklas Backstrom, Matt Bradley and David Steckel also scored and Michael Nylander had two assists for the Capitals.

THE CAPITALS HAVE THE POWER! The Ducks have allowed more than one power-play goal in eight of their first 20 games. The Caps went 3-for-8 on the power play while winning for the sixth time in seven games.

Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger's shoulder check smacked Mike Green into the end boards late in the first period. Green missed his next few shifts and then did not return to the game. According to Washington Post Insider, Green was wearing a shoulder sling after the game and sounds like he will have it looked at in the morning. Apparently Green had looked forward to this game because he is a big Scott Niedermayer fan and asked for his stick after the game.

The Caps played without Alexander Semin, who missed his second-consecutive game because of an undisclosed upper-body injury. Sergei Fedorov missed his sixth-straight with a sprained ankle, as did Shaone Morrisonn due to a groin injury.
_________________________________________________________
THREE STARS OF THE GAME:
1. A. Ovechkin - WAS (Goals: 1, Assists: 3)
2. B. Ryan - ANA (Goals: 2, Assists: 1)
3. V. Kozlov - WAS (Goals: 0, Assists: 1)
_________________________________________________________
NOTES:
Ovechkin has 14 points in his last five games.
_________________________________________________________
NEXT GAME:
The Caps continue their California tour on Thursday, November 20th at the Los Angeles Kings at 10:30PM ET.

The Washington Capitals play the Anaheim Dukes tonight at 10pm ET which is the only meeting of the two teams this season. Hopefully the Caps will burn up the ice at the Honda Center, however, remain far away from the burning fires that are raging in southern California.

The Ducks are led by center Ryan Getzlaf, who has 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) and right wingers Corey Perry with 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) and Teemu Selanne with 18 points (nine goals, nine assists). Former Cap C Brian Sutherby will be on the ice to match up against his old team.
_________________________________________________

WHERE TO WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE CAPS:

TV: Comcast Sports

NetRadio: Caps Radio 1500 & 820

_________________________________________________

INJURIES:

WAS: D Brian Potheir (Consussion/OUT); D Shaone Morrisonn (Groin/Questionable); C/D Sergei Federov (Ankle/Questionable); LW Alexander Semin (Upper body/OUT)

ANA: D Francois Beauchemin (knee) and LW Brad Larsen (abdominal)

The NHL announced the leagues Stars of the Week today and Washington Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom and left wing Alex Ovechkin have been named First and Second Stars of the Week. Nashville goaltender Dan Ellis was named the NHL’s third star.

Backstrom led the NHL with 11 points in four games including two goals, nine assists and a +10 rating. He matched a personal best of four assists in a game and set a personal record with five points Saturday night at New Jersey. He currently holds his longest career assist streak at five games (Nov. 8-15).

Backstrom has 16 points on the season (two goals, 14 assists) and is tied with Alexander Semin for the team lead in assists. Ovechkin has recorded a goal in the Capitals’ last four games, totaling 10 points (five goals, five assists) and a league-best +11 rating in that span.

Teammates Ovechkin and Semin currently lead the NHL in plus/minus with a +17 rating; Backstrom is third at +11. This season Ovechkin has recorded 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists).