Minnesota Wild (7-10-1, 15 points, 5th in Northwest Division)

v.

Washington Capitals (11-3-4, 26 points, 1st in Southeast Division)

7:00 at Verizon Center

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PREVIEW

The Washington Capitals host the Minnesota Wild on Friday the 13th for the much anticipated match up of Cap Center Nicklas Backstrom vs. Wild Goalie Niklas Backstrom.

Alex Ovechkin was hoping to be back on the ice on Friday night, however, it sounds like he needs a couple more days.  Caps Insider explains that Ovi is getting closer.

Jeff Schultz is a game-time decision. 

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LEADERS

WAS: G: Ovechkin (14) A: Backstrom (18) P: Ovechkin (22) +/-: Ovechkin (+8)

MIN: G: Koivu (5) A:  Koivu (11)  P: Koivu (16)  +/-: Shane Hnidy (0)

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INJURIES

WAS: LW Alex Ovechkin (IR-Upper body), D Jeff Schultz (Q-Lower body), F Boyd Gordon (DTD-back)
MIN: C Pierre-Marc Bouchard (IR-Head), RW Petr Sykora (OUT-Concussion)

Washington Capitals (7-2-2, 16 pts, 1st in Southeast Division)

v.

Atlanta Thrashers (4-3-1, 9 pts, 2nd in Southeast Division)

7:00 pm from Phillips Arena

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PREVIEW

This is the second consecutive Thursday these two teams meet, but both are significantly different teams than the last meeting, a 5-4 Caps win, Washington getting five goals from five different player, none names Ovechkin.

Atlanta now finds themselves missing their top player, Ilya Kovalchuk, who scored twice in last week's melee.  Kovalchuk will be out several weeks with a broken bone in his right foot.

The Capitals will be without shot-blocker extraordinaire Quentin Laing, who was diagnosed with H1N1 and sent home from the team.  Eric Fehr missed Thursday's win over Philadelphia with an "upper body injury", believed to be bruised ribs from blocking a shot the other night.

Returning for this contest, though, is Alexander Semin, who missed out in the fun in Atlanta last week while nursing an undisclosed illness/injury, and the possible return of Tomas Fleischmann, who was activated by the team yesterday in is return from a blood clot in his leg.

Alexandre Giroux was returned to AHL Hershey to make room for Fleischmann.

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EXPECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin

Laich-Morrison-Knuble

Fleischmann-Aucoin-Clark

Sloan (Fehr)-Steckel-Bradley

Defense

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Jurcina

Schultz-Pothier

Goalie

Theodore

Varlamov

Scratches: Fehr, Laing

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TEAM STATS

WAS: GF: 2nd (40/3.64); GA: 13st (31/2.82); PP: 21st (9/52, 17.3%); PK: 10th (10/54, 81.5%)

ATL: GF: 4th (28/3.50); GA: 14th (23/2.88); PP: 4th (9/32, 28.1%): PK: 3rd (5/36, 86.1%)_______________________________________________________

LEADERS

WAS: G: Ovechkin (11) A: Backstrom (12) P: Ovechkin (19) +/-: Ovechkin (+11)

ATL: Kovalchuk (9) A: Antropov (7) P: Kovalcuk, Peverley (10) +/-: Kubina (+4)

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INJURIES

WAS: D John Erskine (IR-hand), F Boyd Gordon (DTD-back), Quentin Laing (DTD-Flu), Eric Fehr (DTD-Ribs)

ATL:  LW Ilya Kovalchuk (IR-Foot), D Boris Valabik (IR-Ankle), G Kari Lehtonen (IR-back), C Nik Antropov (QUE-groin)

Philadelphia Flyers (5-3-1, 11 points, 4th in Atlantic Division)

v.

Washington Capitals (6-2-2, 14 points, 1st in Southeast Division)

7:00 at Verizon Center

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PREVIEW

The Washington Capitals, winners of four straight, come home to host the rival Philadelphia Flyers.

The Caps have been winning, but it hasn't been very pretty, especially coming from behind in two road games in Atlanta and Long Island.

Washington's vaunted power play went 0-for-11 in those two games, not coincidentally the two games Alexander Semin missed with an undisclosed illness/injury.  The enigmatic winger should return to the top line for tonight's matchup, providing a spark to countryman Alex Ovechkin, who contributed a single assist on the two-game road trip.

Jose Theodore has played well in his return from back spasms that forced him to miss two games.  He mad 28 saves, sometimes spectacular in nature, in the 3-2 win over the Islanders Saturday night. 

Mike Green was the star of that overtime thriller, with a big booming slap shot for his second goal of the season, and a deft assist to Brooks Laich, streaming for the crease, for the OT winner.

The Flyers lost Sunday night to San Jose 4-1 at home, using backup goalie Brian Boucher.  Starter Ray Emery ought to be between the pipes for tonight's game though.  He is 5-2-1 with a 2.57 GAA this season, but has lost his last three games to the Capitals.

Philadelphia won the series opener Oct. 6 in Philly, 6-5.  Mike Richards netted three in regulation, and Danny Briere scored in overtime for the winner against a shaky Semyon Varlamov.  The game, of course, featured numerous penalties, a regular occurence when these two teams get together.

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EXPECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin

Laich-Morrison-Knuble

Giroux-Aucoin-Clark

Sloan-Steckel-Bradley

Defense

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Jurcina

Schultz-Pothier

Goalie

Theodore

Varlamov

Scratches: Fehr, Laing

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TEAM STATS

WAS: GF: 4th (36/3.60); GA: 15st (29/2.90); PP: 20th (8/48, 16.7%); PK: 8th (8/49, 83.7%)

PHI: GF: 10th (30/3.33); GA: 14th (26/2.89); PP: 9th (11/44, 25%): PK: 5th (6/41, 85.4%)

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LEADERS

WAS: G: Ovechkin (9) A: Backstrom (9) P: Ovechkin (17) +/-: Ovechkin (+8)

PHI: G: Richards (6) A:  Carle (8)  P: Carter, Richards (10) +/-: Carle (+7)

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INJURIES

WAS: D John Erskine (IR-hand), F Boyd Gordon (DTD-back), Quentin Laing (DTD-Flu), Eric Fehr (DTD-Ribs)

PHI: C Blair Betts (IR-Shoulder), D Ryan Parent (OUT-Lower Body)

San Jose Sharks (3-2-1, 7 pts, 3rd in Pacific Division)

v.

Washington Capitals (2-2-2, 6 pts, 2nd in Southeast Division)

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PREVIEW

The San Jose Sharks make a rare appearance at Verizon Center for their first stop on a six-game eastern swing.  For Washington, it's the middle game of a three-game home stand that got off to a disappointing start with a shootout loss to New Jersey, their fourth straight defeat.

The Sharks bring an exciting, fast paced offense -- quite similar to the home team -- backed by Evgeni Nabokov, one of the best in the business between the pipes.

Nabokov has had the Capitals number in his career, going 8-0-0 with a 1.98 GAA in eight career starts against Washington.

"It's great to have him back there," center Scott Nichol said of Nabokov (3-1-2, 2.68, .907 this season). "You know he's going to make the save."

The Sharks in general have had their way with the Caps in their history.  San Jose has won six straight contests in the nation's capital, dating back to 1999, and 11 overall in the series.

San Jose is lead by veteran Joe Thornton (1-9-10, +1), one of the best set-up guys in the league, and newcomer Dany Heatley, acquired by the Sharks during pre-season from Ottawa.  He and Patrick Marleau both have five goals in a quick start to the season. 

Dan Boyle is the Sharks leader on defense, a good puck handler and capable in his own end.

"They have a tremendous offense," coach Bruce Boudreau told assembled media yesterday. "That's why they won the President's Trophy last year as the best team in the league. It's going to be a huge test.

Washington hopes to break a four-game skid, though they took a point away from two of the losses.

The Caps raced out of the box this season, scoring 10 goals in their first two games, but have struggled a bit offensively during the losing streak.  Washington went zero-for-five on the power play Tuesday night, after managing one goal in nine tries last week versus New York.

"We've gone through a whole lot of units, whether it's Mike [Knuble] or Semin," Boudreau said. "The same thing happened last year, and then we caught on late in October and the power play was very good after that."

The Caps come in a bit banged up, as defenseman John Erskine was placed on IR, expected to miss three games.  Forward Keith Aucoin was recalled, as center Boyd Gordon has been experiencing discomfort with his chronic back problem.

Jose Theodore, who has a .930 save percentage in his past four starts, will start tonight. Theodore is 6-6-0 with a 2.56 goals against average and .919 save percentage all-time against San Jose.

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EXPECTED LINEUP

Forwards

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Knuble

Laich-Morrison-Semin

Fehr-Steckel-Clark

Laing-Gordon-Bradley

Defense

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Jurcina

Pothier-Erskine

Goalie

Theodore

Varlamov

Scratches:  Aucoin, Nylander, Schultz, Sloan

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TEAM STATS

WAS: GF: 6th (22/3.67); GA: 21st (20/3.33); PP: 18th (6/29, 20.7%); PK: 13th (6/32, 81.2%)

SJ: GF: 11th (20/3.33); GA: 14th (17/2.83); PP: 12th (7/28, 25%): PK: 8th (5/30, 83.3%)

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LEADERS

WAS:  G:  Ovechkin, Semin (5)  A:  Backstrom (8)  P:  Ovechkin (12)  +/-: Ovechkin, Backstrom (+7)

SJ:  G:  Heatley (5)  A:  Thornton (9)   P:  Heatley, Thornton (10)   +/-:  Heatley, Demers (+3)

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INJURIES

WAS:  F Tomas Fleischmann (IR-leg), D John Erskine (IR-hand), F Boyd Gordon (DTD-back)

SJ:  C Torrey Mitchell (IR-knee), C Joe Pavelski (out-foot)

New Jersey Devils (2-2-0, 4 pts, 4th in Atlantic Division)

v.

Washington Capitals (2-2-1, 5 pts, 1st in Southeast Division)

_______________________________________________________

PREVIEW

The Devils have won back-to-back road games after starting the season 0-2 at home.  After dropping decisions to the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers at the Prudential Center, New Jersey bounced back with a 4-3 shootout win over Tampa Bay and a 3-2 victory over Florida on Saturday, outshooting the Panthers 41-21.

New Jersey is struggling to score early on, notching just ten goals in four games.  Travis Zajac (3-2-5, -2) paces the Devils with goals in three straight games, while Zach Parise (1-3-4, -2) hasn't quite warmed up yet.   Rob Niedermayer has two goals already, and that ranks him second in goals for New Jersey.

Veteran Martin Brodeur has played all four contests for the Devils and has looked rusty as well, with a 3.22 goals against average and .890 save percentage.

Coach Jacques Lemaire liked what he saw from his troops in Florida.  "Overall, it's probably our best game from the first minute to the last," he said. "Through the whole game, we probably had one average shift."

Washington begins a three-game homestand, trying to break out of a glut of bad penalties, which has hurt the team in their three-game losing streak.  The team has allowed six power play goals during the streak, as a result of taking poor hooking and holding infractions.  The Capitals are the fourth most penalized team in the league.

The Caps gave up to power play markers to Detroit Saturday night in a 3-2 loss, with the game-winner coming with Mike Green in the box for hooking with 6:53 remaining in the third period.  Green has not scored this season, with just two assists to his credit, despite the Caps averaging four goals a game thus far.

Eric Fehr returned to the lineup Saturday against Detroit, and will again be on the left wing on the third line tonight.

Jose Theodore, off his most solid performance of the season in the loss to the Wings, gets the nod in goal again.  He is playing to a 2.90 GAA and .902 save percentage.

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LINEUP

Forwards

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin

Laich-Morrison-Knuble

Fehr-Steckel-Clark

Laing-Gordon-Bradley

Defense

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Jurcina

Pothier-Erskine

Goalie

Theodore

Varlamov

Scratches

Nylander, Schultz, Sloan
_______________________________________________________

TEAM STATS

WAS:  GF:  T-2nd (20/4.00); GA: T-25th (18/3.60); PP:  12th (6/24, 25.0%); PK:  14th (6/27, 77.8%)

NJ:  GF:  T-21st (10/2.50); GA:  T-17th (13/3.25); PP:  11th (5/19, 26.3%):  PK:  18th (4/17, 76.5%)

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INJURIES

WAS:  F Tomas Fleischmann (leg-out)

NJ:  LW Patrick Elias (hip, groin, IR), D Mark Fraser (upper body, IR)

New York Rangers (2-1-0, 4 pts, 2nd in Atlantic Division)

v.

Washington Capitals (2-0-1, 5 pts, 1st in Southeast Division)

__________________________________________________________

PREVIEW

Tonight's matchup pits two teams that are intimately familiar with each other, having played a seven-game first round playoff series against each other last season. 

New York comes in on the heels of a 3-2 win Monday in New Jersey.  They fell in Pittsburgh 3-2 to open the season last Friday, and beat Ottawa the next night 5-2. 

As he was for last season's playoff series, Henrik Lundqvist has been in goal for each game for the Rangers.  New York is playing with two rookie defensemen, Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy, and the pair have combined for  three goals and four points in the Rangers' first three games this season.

Brandon Dubinsky and free agent signee Marian Gaborik each have two goals and two assists thus far.  And the Rangers bring old friend Donald Brashear back to invade his old turf and mix things up a bit.  Interesting to see if "The Donald" can get anyone on the Caps to tango with him tonight or if he'll be reduced to spectator at the end of the bench.

The Caps enter play with four of the top six scorers in the league after a week of play.  Alex Ovechkin (5-4-9, +6), Nicklas Backstrom (0-8-8, +5), Alexander Semin (4-3-7, +2) and Brooks Laich (3-3-6, +2) litter the top of the scoring list.

For the first five periods of the season, the Caps looked like world-beaters, dominating the Bruins in Boston 4-1 and spanking Toronto around the Verizon Center ice, before letting up in the third period of that contest. 

Then, a road trip to Philly served as a wake-up call, as the Flyers netted six, including three power play goals, and coach Bruce Boudreau was left to yank Semyon Varlamov, who he described as allowing a couple of soft goals.

Jose Theodore will start between the pipes tonight, as he did for the opener in Boston.

Washington returned forward Boyd Kane to AHL Hershey, and Tyler Sloan will make his first entry into the lineup tonight, albeit at wing with Boyd Gordon and Matt Bradley instead of his customary rearguard spot.  Milan Jurcina gets the night off from his normal duties, in Boudreau's defensive rotation.

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LINEUP

Forwards:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin

Laich-Morrison-Knuble

Laing-Steckel-Clark

Sloan-Gordon-Bradley

Defense:

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Erskine

Pothier-Schultz

Scratches: Nylander, Jurcina

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SPECIAL TEAMS

WAS:  GF:  2nd (15/5.00)  GA:  22nd (11/3.67) PP:  9th (33.3 %)  PK:  10th (82.4%)

NYR:  GF:  14th (10/3.33)  GA:  7th (7/2.33) PP:  26th (13.3 %)  PK:  8th (83.3%)

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INJURIES

WAS:  RW Eric Fehr (shoulders-out), LW Tomas Fleischmann (leg-out)

NYR:  C Sean Avery (knee-questionable)

The Washington Capitals and the Boston Bruins were the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference last season, and start the 2009-10 campaign facing one another again.  After an off-season that was spend in great anticipation for this very day, the start of the new hockey season, it's finally arrived.

And it has arrived with much fanfare and high expectations.  Never before in the team history has so much attention and press been dedicated to pucks in the off-season in Washington.  It's been non-stop, starting with last year's disappointing playoff ouster by eventual champion Pittsburgh, through the awards season, free agent period, then the start of training camp, and coming to a head at last weekend's first-ever Capitals Convention.

Good crowds showed for the home pre-season games, so much so it reminded of weekend games in the not-so-distant past.

But Washington has arrived as a "hockey town", and it's now time to drop 'em for real and get this show on the road.

These two teams join the Penguins and Philadelphia as the class of the East.  Boston has a very balanced line-up, and was second in the league in goals scored.  They welcome the return of Marco Sturm, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, but will miss their leading goal-scorer, Phil Kessel, who was traded Sept. 18 to Toronto after a contract dispute.

The Bruins return Norris Trophy winner Zdeno Chara and Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas as well.   They are coached by last year's Jack Adams winner Claude Julien.

"I think we've got to work our way to the top just like we did last year," Julien said. "There's nothing different except the challenge will be bigger, there's more respect toward our team this year."

Washington, of course, starts and ends with Alexander Ovechkin.  The two-time Hart Trophy winner (56-54-110 last season) came into camp with 20 pounds of extra muscle, so he's primed for a long season of bumping and grinding to go along with his dynamic scoring.

He'll get help up from his running mates, Nicklas Backstrom (3rd in assists) and Alexander Semin (1.3 points per game).  The team added reinforcements with Mike Knuble (27-20-47, +5) and Brendan Morrison, who was given a one-year, $1.5 million contract to prove he's healthy as a second-line center.

The Caps are loaded with young, but experienced, defensemen.  They are led by Mike Green, the NHL's leading defensive scorer.  Green finished with 31 goals and 42 assists despite missing 14 games due to injury.

Backstopping the Caps will be Jose Theodore and Semyon Varlamov.  Theodore had an up-and-down season last year, but did win 30+ games, while Varlamov was spectacular in the playoffs before finally wearing down in the Pittsburgh series.

Here are tonight's lines (courtesy of Captials Insider):

Offense:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Semin

Laich-Morrison-Knuble

Laing-Steckel-Clark

Kane-Gordon-Bradley

Defense:

Morrisonn-Green

Poti-Jurcina

Erskine-Pothier

Boudreau did not announce a starting goalie as of this post.

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SPECIAL TEAMS

WAS: 2008-09:  GF:  3rd (3.27); GA-19th (2.93);

PP-2nd (50/177, 28.2%); PK-17th (34/184, 81.5%)

BOS:  2008-09:  GF:  2nd (3.29); GA-1st (2.32);

PP-4th (44/157, 28.0%); PK-12th (29/148, 80.4%)

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INJURIES

WAS:  Eric Fehr (shoulders), Tomas Fleischmann (blood clot)

BOS:  David Krejci (hip)

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NOTES

The team lost RW Chris Bourque to Pittsburgh off of waivers.  They recalled Boyd Kane from AHL Hershey to replace him on the roster.

Michael Nylander, who did not play all pre-season, will be a healthy scratch, as will Tyler Sloan and Jeff Schultz.