Caps @ Ning 1-11-2007 Preview

Washington Capitals (19-24; 45 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 8th Eastern Conference, 18th Overall) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (21-23; 44 points; 4th Southeast Division, 9th Eastern Conference, 19th Overall):
Caps Game #44, Road Game #20, NHL Game #655

St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL. 7:35 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WTEM 980-AM. Tampa TV: Sunshine Network. Radio: WDAE 620-AM. NHL Center Ice: Sunshine Network feed.

Tonight the Caps hit the road for the first time in 2007 to kick off a four game road trip riding a three game winning streak into Tampa Bay. The Ning have won two in a row themselves but both of those victories came over the Penguin Scum, one in a gimmick. The Ning are just a single point behind the Caps so the outcome of tonight's game will be huge going down the stretch.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Caps.com. Caps.com .pdf game notes.

Open Source Intelligence:

St. Petersberg Times. Tampa Tribune. Ning.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

This has been an up and down season for the Caps and right now they seem to be on an up swing. Throw in that the Caps seem to play better against the Ning on the road than they do at home and this has all the makings of a game that the Caps can win. And a win tonight would be huge, it would give the Caps separation between themselves and the Ning as three of four games on this road trip are against teams that the Caps are dog fighting with right now for the final four Eastern Conference playoff spots. If the Caps want to make the playoffs, they must have a good road trip against the teams they are fighting against.

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

Caps 5
Ning 4
Winner by Zubrus