Caps @ Senators 1-30-2007 Preview

Washington Capitals (21-29; 49 points; 4th Southeast Division, 12th Eastern Conference, 22nd Overall) @ Ottawa Senators (29-23; 60 points; 3rd Northeast Division, 5th Eastern Conference, 10th Overall):
Caps Game #51, Road Game #25, NHL Game #760

ScotiaBank Place, Kanata, Ontario, Canada. 7:35 pm. Washington TV: NewsChannel 8: Radio: WTNT 570-AM. Ottawa TV: Roger's Sportsnet East. Ottawa Radio: TEAM 1200-AM. French Canadian National TV: RDS. NHL Center Ice: Roger's Sportsnet East feed.

Tonight the Caps open up a three game road trip in Ottawa to face the Senators for the fourth and final time this season. Two weeks ago, the Caps got run over in Ottawa by a score of 5-2. The Caps have only won twice in the four games since then, both of them over the Carolina Hurricanes and most recently being this past Saturday night. The Senators have also won twice in four games since these two teams last met. However, they lost last night 3-1 in Montreal.

What The Natives Are Saying:

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

Open Source Intelligence:

Ottawa Citizen: Outburst downs Sens, Habs fueled by emotion. Ottawa Sun: Cursed by Dryden, 3 minute offence (those wacky Canadian spellings...), more aboot Dryden. Senators.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

Ottawa is finishing off a three-games-in-four nights with the second of back-to-back games tonight and have been improving lately in these situations. The Caps once again will have their work cut out for them because they are playing a more talented hockey team. They'll have to play another strong game in order to have any chance of getting two points. How much last night's emotionally charged game in Montreal will affect the Senators tonight is anybody's guess but Bryan Murray coached hockey teams are awfully tough to beat in January and February.

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

Caps 3
Senators 4
Winner by Spezza