:caps: @ :wings: Preview
CAPITALS (36-29-6) at RED WINGS (44-24-4)
TV: CSN-MA, FS-D
Last 10: Washington 6-3-1; Detroit 3-6-1.
Season Series: This is the second and final meeting of the season. Way back on Oct. 22, Washington pummeled Detroit at the Verizon Center, 7-1, behind two goals each from Mathieu Perreault and Mike Green.
Big Story: Two teams typically in the Stanley Cup conversation in late March are this year struggling to retain the title of playoff competitor. The Capitals, a team currently sitting just a game above Buffalo and Winnipeg in eighth place in the East, will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they face Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings are back home after a rough four-game road trip in which they went 0-3-1. Detroit has fallen to third in the ultra-competitive Central Division, and fifth overall in the West.
Who's Hot: Ovechkin scored a beautiful individual goal on Sunday, and has three in his past three games for the Caps. His ability to produce will be vital to Washington’s playoff hopes. … Filppula has 13 points – 6 goals, 7 assists – in his last 10 games.
Injury Report: Washington starting goalie Tomas Vokoun missed Sunday's game with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day. Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) is out indefinitely. … While Datsyuk is back, the Wings are still missing some key components. Darren Helm (lower body) and Joey MacDonald (back spasms) are doubtful for Monday's game against Washington. Johan Franzen (back spams), Jakub Kindl (strained oblique), Jonathan Ericsson (broken left wrist) and Nicklas Lidstrom (bone bruise in right ankle) are out indefinitely.
Stat Pack: While both teams are in the top eight League-wide for wins when trailing after the first period, an early deficit has proved fatal in each team's recent skid. Washington trailed early against both Winnipeg and Chicago, while Detroit trailed heading into the first intermission in each of its last four games.
Puck Drop: Speaking about Datsyuk, coach Mike Babcock had this to say: "He looked like a player who has been out but you know he's going to get better. That was a big deal for us to have him out there and give us some swagger."
Go
GO! :|
CAPITALS (36-29-6) at RED WINGS (44-24-4)
TV: CSN-MA, FS-D
Last 10: Washington 6-3-1; Detroit 3-6-1.
Season Series: This is the second and final meeting of the season. Way back on Oct. 22, Washington pummeled Detroit at the Verizon Center, 7-1, behind two goals each from Mathieu Perreault and Mike Green.
Big Story: Two teams typically in the Stanley Cup conversation in late March are this year struggling to retain the title of playoff competitor. The Capitals, a team currently sitting just a game above Buffalo and Winnipeg in eighth place in the East, will look to snap a two-game losing streak when they face Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings are back home after a rough four-game road trip in which they went 0-3-1. Detroit has fallen to third in the ultra-competitive Central Division, and fifth overall in the West.
Who's Hot: Ovechkin scored a beautiful individual goal on Sunday, and has three in his past three games for the Caps. His ability to produce will be vital to Washington’s playoff hopes. … Filppula has 13 points – 6 goals, 7 assists – in his last 10 games.
Injury Report: Washington starting goalie Tomas Vokoun missed Sunday's game with a lower-body injury and is day-to-day. Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) is out indefinitely. … While Datsyuk is back, the Wings are still missing some key components. Darren Helm (lower body) and Joey MacDonald (back spasms) are doubtful for Monday's game against Washington. Johan Franzen (back spams), Jakub Kindl (strained oblique), Jonathan Ericsson (broken left wrist) and Nicklas Lidstrom (bone bruise in right ankle) are out indefinitely.
Stat Pack: While both teams are in the top eight League-wide for wins when trailing after the first period, an early deficit has proved fatal in each team's recent skid. Washington trailed early against both Winnipeg and Chicago, while Detroit trailed heading into the first intermission in each of its last four games.
Puck Drop: Speaking about Datsyuk, coach Mike Babcock had this to say: "He looked like a player who has been out but you know he's going to get better. That was a big deal for us to have him out there and give us some swagger."
Go
