Caps @ Rangers 10-12-2007 Wrap Up / Caps @ Buffaslugs 10-13-2007 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post. Times: penalties doom, Caps Report.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL AP Wire.

The Other Side:

New York Daily News. New York Post. Rangers.com.

Final Thoughts:

When even Larry Brooks says that the Martin Straka goal (which turned out to be the game winner) should have been wiped out by a "blatant" goaltender interference that wasn't called, you know the Rangers got away with something on the play. But in the long run it didn't matter because even if that goal had been wiped out, it would not have bailed out the Caps pitiful performance last night. We'll get to see tonight if the games last Friday and Saturday night were a true picture of what the Caps really are. 4 down, 78 to go.


Washington Capitals (3-1; 6 points) @ Buffaslugs (1-2; 2 points):
Caps Game #5, Road Game #4, NHL Game #63

HSBC Arena, Loserville...er...Buffalo, NY, 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Plus. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Loserville...er...Buffalo TV: MSG B, Radio: WWGR 55o-AM. NHL Center Ice: MSG B feed (my sincere apologies folks, nobody deserves that kind of torture from Rick Jeanneret. I do believe the Geneva Conventions should be amended to stop it).

Tonight the Caps are back at it facing a team that, like the Caps, are looking to cut down on the number of penalties they've been taking. The Buffaslugs were whistled for 13 penalties in their 6-0 rout of the visiting Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday night. The Buffaslugs are adjusting to life without Chris Drury and that scumbag Danielle Briere (who now wishes to be known as Dani) and are off to a 1-2 start after dropping a home and home set to the Islanders to start the season.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Open Source Intelligence:

The Loserville...er...Buffalo News: new center, Buffaslugs notebook.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

Two teams talking about cutting down on the number of penalties usually means that two teams played very lazy games the last night out. Either that or they were stuck with referees who were calling everything in sight. Either way, the danger here is thinking that because of the top end talent drain in Loserville...er...Buffalo that this game will be easy. What will determine the ease of this game more than anything else is the play of Buffaslug goaltender Ryan Miller. If the Caps can get to him early, they stand a much better chance at winning. If the Caps can't, they then need to hope that Brent Johnson can get off to a much better start than he did the last time he was in Loserville...er...Buffalo. The Buffaslugs are still a fast, talented, and deep team so the Caps could very well have their hands full tonight if Miller is on his game.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 1
Buffaslugs 5
Winner by Vanek

(1-3 on the season)