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Canes at Caps Game Preview

The Hurricanes are in the nation's capital to take on the Washington Capitals tonight for another important game for both teams. The Caps have lost four straight at home and the Hurricanes have lost two straight on the road, so one of those streaks will come to an end.

This is the fifth of six meetings between the teams this season with each club winning two so far. The Canes have won the last two, a 3-1 contest at the RBC in December, and most recently, a 5-2 win at the Verizon Center earlier this month.

Last season Carolina finished with a 4-3-1 record against the Caps and Eric Staal led all Hurricanes with eight points, (3g 5a), in the series.

The Capitals have won their last two games while on the road,.(against Nashville and Philadelphia) with Jose Theodore back in net. Expect to see him again tonight.

Cam Ward will make his 18th straight start for Carolina.


GP MIN W L T EGA GA GAA SA SV SV% SO
2008 - Cam Ward 57 3291 30 22 4 10 137 2.50 1572 1435 .913 5


GP MIN W L T EGA GA GAA SA SV SV% SO
2008 - Jose Theodore 47 2706 26 14 4 2 126 2.79 1292 1166 .902 1

The Caps are led by the best player in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin, but he has plenty of help. Alexander Semin has always been a Canes killer, Nicklas Backstrom is dangerous, and Mike Green is one of the top defensive scorers in the league.


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Alex Ovechkin 66 48 39 87 12 68 15 1 10 1 435 11.0


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Nicklas Backstrom 69 18 54 72 13 44 10 0 1 0 145 12.4


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Alexander Semin 50 28 37 65 29 65 5 0 6 1 173 16.2


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Mike Green 56 23 35 58 23 56 16 1 2 1 202 11.4

For more information about the Caps, check out Japers' Rink.

The Hurricanes are led by Eric Staal and Ray Whitney. Rod Brind'Amour has goals in four straight games and points in five straight. Whitney has points in three straight.


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Eric Staal 70 32 28 60 4 48 11 1 8 0 321 10.0


GP G A P +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG GTG SOG PCT
2008 - Ray Whitney 70 22 38 60 -9 26 7 0 1 2 190 11.6


Joni Pitkanen missed the last game with an upper body injury, but is expected to give it a go tonight. The lines will probably be the same except for the fourth, Coach Maurice hinted that he might switch things up there. I will guess that Jokinen will remain at center, with perhaps Bayda and Conboy on the wings.

I will be at the game tonight, so I will be sure to leave any updated information right here. Of course the Live Game Thread will be open as usual about 30 minutes before game time.

The contest will be broadcast locally by FS Carolinas starting at 7PM.