:caps: @ :canes: Preview
CAPITALS (5-3-0) at HURRICANES (4-3-0)
TV: CSN-DC (HD), FS-CR (HD)
Season Series: First of six meetings this season between these Southeast Division rivals. They split their 2009-10 series, with four of the six matchups decided either in overtime or a shootout. Alexander Semin and Mike Green scored 4 goals apiece for Washington, while Eric Staal had 4 goals and 10 points for Carolina.
Big Story: Carolina plays its first game of the regular season at the RBC Center, becoming the 30th and final NHL team to have its home opener. The Hurricanes have a "home" win to their credit already, one of the two they earned in Helsinki, Finland, in their season-opening series with the Wild, but this is the first time their fans will get to see them play since an Oct. 1 preseason game against the Thrashers.
"I think that coming off a road trip that was a very difficult schedule and having more confidence in yourself than when you left -- we're very happy about that," coach Paul Maurice said. "I don't know that being a game over .500 fires us up and that this is going to be easy for us, but I think it's more a general understanding that we’re playing pretty good hockey, and if we keep improving in some areas we'll be a good team."
Who's Hot?: Semin (5-3-8) now leads the Capitals in goals and is tied with Ovechkin (4-4-8) atop the team scoring list. … Jussi Jokinen (2-4-6) had a goal and an assist Saturday to tie him for the Hurricanes' scoring lead with Staal (3-3-6).
Injury Report: Washington hopes to have rookie center Marcus Johansson back in the lineup after he missed Saturday's game with a hip flexor. Defenseman Tom Poti also missed the game and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the same problem ailing forward Matt Bradley, who has missed the last five games. Goalie Semyon Varlamov is nursing a groin injury. Green returned against Atlanta after missing three games but only skated on the power play, taking four shifts for 5:39 of ice time.
Stat Pack: The Capitals already own three overtime wins this season, over the Islanders, Predators and Thrashers. … Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen finished with 2 assists and 5 blocked shots while seeing a game-high 26:07 of ice time against the Coyotes.
Puck Drop: Eighteen-year-old rookie Jeff Skinner scored his first NHL goal and picked up 4 points in Carolina's first seven games, and now he's ready to experience playing in front of a rocking RBC Center crowd against the three-time defending Southeast champs.
"The guys have told me how loud it's going to be and how crazed the atmosphere is going to be," Skinner told the Raleigh News & Observer. "I'm really excited about it."
Go
GO! :dizzy:
CAPITALS (5-3-0) at HURRICANES (4-3-0)
TV: CSN-DC (HD), FS-CR (HD)
Season Series: First of six meetings this season between these Southeast Division rivals. They split their 2009-10 series, with four of the six matchups decided either in overtime or a shootout. Alexander Semin and Mike Green scored 4 goals apiece for Washington, while Eric Staal had 4 goals and 10 points for Carolina.
Big Story: Carolina plays its first game of the regular season at the RBC Center, becoming the 30th and final NHL team to have its home opener. The Hurricanes have a "home" win to their credit already, one of the two they earned in Helsinki, Finland, in their season-opening series with the Wild, but this is the first time their fans will get to see them play since an Oct. 1 preseason game against the Thrashers.
"I think that coming off a road trip that was a very difficult schedule and having more confidence in yourself than when you left -- we're very happy about that," coach Paul Maurice said. "I don't know that being a game over .500 fires us up and that this is going to be easy for us, but I think it's more a general understanding that we’re playing pretty good hockey, and if we keep improving in some areas we'll be a good team."
Who's Hot?: Semin (5-3-8) now leads the Capitals in goals and is tied with Ovechkin (4-4-8) atop the team scoring list. … Jussi Jokinen (2-4-6) had a goal and an assist Saturday to tie him for the Hurricanes' scoring lead with Staal (3-3-6).
Injury Report: Washington hopes to have rookie center Marcus Johansson back in the lineup after he missed Saturday's game with a hip flexor. Defenseman Tom Poti also missed the game and is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the same problem ailing forward Matt Bradley, who has missed the last five games. Goalie Semyon Varlamov is nursing a groin injury. Green returned against Atlanta after missing three games but only skated on the power play, taking four shifts for 5:39 of ice time.
Stat Pack: The Capitals already own three overtime wins this season, over the Islanders, Predators and Thrashers. … Hurricanes defenseman Joni Pitkanen finished with 2 assists and 5 blocked shots while seeing a game-high 26:07 of ice time against the Coyotes.
Puck Drop: Eighteen-year-old rookie Jeff Skinner scored his first NHL goal and picked up 4 points in Carolina's first seven games, and now he's ready to experience playing in front of a rocking RBC Center crowd against the three-time defending Southeast champs.
"The guys have told me how loud it's going to be and how crazed the atmosphere is going to be," Skinner told the Raleigh News & Observer. "I'm really excited about it."
Go
All I care about is someone to step up and take care of the tending duties this year......solidly and reliably.
