Caps @ Avs 10-25-2006 Preview

Washington Capitals (2-5; 7 points) @ Colorado Avalanche (4-5; 10 points):

Pepsi Center, Denver, CO. 9:05 pm Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WTEM 980-AM. Colorado TV: Altitude. Radio: KKFN 950-AM. NHL Center Ice: Altitude feed.
Caps Game #8, Road Game #4, NHL Game #133

Tonight the Caps hit the road for their first extended road trip of the season totaling four games. The Caps are starting a three games in four nights and four in six nights set after finishing up last week a three games in four nights set with Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Ning. The Avs are playing their second of a three game home stand and are coming off a 6-1 win over Los Angeles from Monday night.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post: Uncertain road, yesterday's notebook. Times. Caps.com. Caps.com pdf game notes.

Open Source Intelligence:

Denver Post: Backup Budaj will start again, Brisebois being picked on. Rocky Mountain News. Avs.com. Avs.com still does not have their game notes posted yet, but they do have, Ask a former Cap. (I will be submitting "Do you like movies about gladiators?" I don't expect it to be answered...)

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

The Caps are looking for their first win on the road this season. Of the four games on this trip, this is the most likely stop where they will get that win. Last season the Caps did not get their first road win until October 26th, their 4th road game, against Buffalo in Rochester, NY. Their first win in another team's arena didn't come until November 19th in Montréal. The Caps are a better team this year and I think playing Colorado could help them out. With the much discussed move of Jakub "and Sons" Klepis to the second line center position (creating an all-Euro second line) with Kris Beech moving to the fourth line, and the impending returns of Matt "Princess" Pettinger and Boyd Gordon, the Caps are dangerously close to having four effective forward lines. This could be the start of something good for the Caps, if only the young defensemen could mature faster....

Caps Nut Official Washington Hockey.com Predict The Score Contest Entry:

Caps 3
Avs 2
Winner by Zednik