:caps: @ :leafs: Preview
Season series: Third of four meetings this season, with each team having won once on home ice. Washington raced to a five-goal lead before holding on for a 6-4 win on Oct. 3, and Toronto returned the favor on Nov. 21 with a 2-1 shootout victory. Semyon Varlamov and Vesa Toskala have been the starting goaltenders in both matchups.
Big story: While the Capitals have opened up a 13-point lead in the Southeast Division, the Maple Leafs have been battling their way back to respectability and will aim for their third straight win at the Air Canada Centre, a feat they haven't accomplished since January 2008.
"We've gotten solid goaltending, defensemen have done a better job, 5-on-5 up the ice creating turnovers and we're a little bit more confident in terms of finishing up opportunities," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said. "We still have to work on our special teams but you're always working on something."
Who's hot: Semin has four multi-point efforts in five games for Washington since returning from injury, putting up four goals and 10 points in that time. Tomas Fleischmann has four goals and six points during the same span.
Mikhail Grabovski and Niklas Hagman carry five-game points streaks into Saturday for Toronto. Grabovski has three goals and three assists over that span while Hagman has one goal and five assists.
Injury report: In addition to Varlamov, the Capitals remain without forwards Boyd Gordon (back) and Quintin Laing (broken jaw) and defenseman Brian Pothier (ribs).
Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson practiced Friday as he aims to return soon following a procedure to correct an elevated heart rate. Forward John Mitchell (knee) and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson (hyperextended elbow) are out indefinitely and defenseman Mike Van Ryn is out for the season following knee surgery.
Go
GO! :dance:
Season series: Third of four meetings this season, with each team having won once on home ice. Washington raced to a five-goal lead before holding on for a 6-4 win on Oct. 3, and Toronto returned the favor on Nov. 21 with a 2-1 shootout victory. Semyon Varlamov and Vesa Toskala have been the starting goaltenders in both matchups.
Big story: While the Capitals have opened up a 13-point lead in the Southeast Division, the Maple Leafs have been battling their way back to respectability and will aim for their third straight win at the Air Canada Centre, a feat they haven't accomplished since January 2008.
"We've gotten solid goaltending, defensemen have done a better job, 5-on-5 up the ice creating turnovers and we're a little bit more confident in terms of finishing up opportunities," Toronto coach Ron Wilson said. "We still have to work on our special teams but you're always working on something."
Who's hot: Semin has four multi-point efforts in five games for Washington since returning from injury, putting up four goals and 10 points in that time. Tomas Fleischmann has four goals and six points during the same span.
Mikhail Grabovski and Niklas Hagman carry five-game points streaks into Saturday for Toronto. Grabovski has three goals and three assists over that span while Hagman has one goal and five assists.
Injury report: In addition to Varlamov, the Capitals remain without forwards Boyd Gordon (back) and Quintin Laing (broken jaw) and defenseman Brian Pothier (ribs).
Leafs goalie Jonas Gustavsson practiced Friday as he aims to return soon following a procedure to correct an elevated heart rate. Forward John Mitchell (knee) and defenseman Carl Gunnarsson (hyperextended elbow) are out indefinitely and defenseman Mike Van Ryn is out for the season following knee surgery.
Go
Hmm what am I going to do lol.
Seriously this game should be about 5-0 Caps but Tosk is playing good.Considering the first messup
