:caps: @ :thrashers: Preview
Last 10 -- Washington 6-4-0; Atlanta 1-6-3
Season series: -- This is the third of six meetings between the division rivals this season. The Capitals have taken the first two in regulation, each by one goal. They held on for a 5-4 win on Oct. 22 despite taking a three-goal lead into the third period. Washington did the same thing a week later, this time taking a 3-0 lead into the third period and holding on for a 4-3 win in a thriller. Mike Knuble's empty-net goal with 53 seconds left was the difference because Zach Bogosian scored in the final second.
Big story: -- The only active Russian captains in the NHL will be leading their teams into this Saturday night clash. Ilya Kovalchuk and Alex Ovechkin are good friends and will be teammates on the Russian Olympic squad next month. In 32 career games against the Thrashers, Ovechkin has 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points. It's the most points he's scored against any team in his career. In 44 career games against the Capitals, Kovalchuk also has 52 points -- 24 goals and 28 assists. You also may remember that during last year's All-Star Weekend in Montreal, Kovalchuk helped heal the rocky relationship between Ovechkin and fellow Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin.
Who's hot?: -- Backstrom scored two more goals Thursday night in the Capitals win, giving him 17 for the season, which puts him second on the team behind Ovechkin's 27. Backstrom is only five goals away from tying his career high of 22, which he scored in 82 games last season.
Injury report: -- The Caps are finally healthy now that defenseman Brian Pothier returned Thursday night. Atlanta may still be without center Nik Antropov, who has missed the last two games with a hip injury, and defenseman Mark Popovic has missed 16 straight games with a foot injury. GM Don Waddell said goalie Kari Lehtonen is still a few weeks away from returning from his season-long back injury.
Go
GO! :dance:
Last 10 -- Washington 6-4-0; Atlanta 1-6-3
Season series: -- This is the third of six meetings between the division rivals this season. The Capitals have taken the first two in regulation, each by one goal. They held on for a 5-4 win on Oct. 22 despite taking a three-goal lead into the third period. Washington did the same thing a week later, this time taking a 3-0 lead into the third period and holding on for a 4-3 win in a thriller. Mike Knuble's empty-net goal with 53 seconds left was the difference because Zach Bogosian scored in the final second.
Big story: -- The only active Russian captains in the NHL will be leading their teams into this Saturday night clash. Ilya Kovalchuk and Alex Ovechkin are good friends and will be teammates on the Russian Olympic squad next month. In 32 career games against the Thrashers, Ovechkin has 25 goals and 27 assists for 52 points. It's the most points he's scored against any team in his career. In 44 career games against the Capitals, Kovalchuk also has 52 points -- 24 goals and 28 assists. You also may remember that during last year's All-Star Weekend in Montreal, Kovalchuk helped heal the rocky relationship between Ovechkin and fellow Russian superstar Evgeni Malkin.
Who's hot?: -- Backstrom scored two more goals Thursday night in the Capitals win, giving him 17 for the season, which puts him second on the team behind Ovechkin's 27. Backstrom is only five goals away from tying his career high of 22, which he scored in 82 games last season.
Injury report: -- The Caps are finally healthy now that defenseman Brian Pothier returned Thursday night. Atlanta may still be without center Nik Antropov, who has missed the last two games with a hip injury, and defenseman Mark Popovic has missed 16 straight games with a foot injury. GM Don Waddell said goalie Kari Lehtonen is still a few weeks away from returning from his season-long back injury.
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