GAME ON! Caps @ Thrashers 10-5-2007 Wrap Up/ Caps vs. Canes 10-6-2007 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post. Times: open with win, Caps Report. Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire.

The Other Side:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Thrashers stumped, former glory, banners no big deal. Thrashers.com.

Final Thoughts:

It's a long season so getting off on the right foot does not necessarily mean that you have to win your first game. The Caps could lose tonight and Monday and nobody will remember last night with any warm feelings. However there were some good signs last night. While the Power Play was 1 for 7, they generated pressure in a fashion they were unable to do last year. The Caps also took advantage of a team that came out flat and were able to put them away after regaining the momentum. Bottom line, a win is a win is a win. 1 down, 81 to go.


Washington Capitals (1-0; 2 points) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (1-1; 3 points):
Caps Game #2, Home Game #1, NHL Game #25

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7:37 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Carolina TV: Fox SportsNet South. Radio: WCMC 99.9-FM. NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

Tonight the Caps get to open up their home schedule and for the first time since 1995, they will wear a red jersey in a game. The Caps are coming off of last night's 3-1 win over Atlanta and expect to see the return of Alexander Semin. The Canes are coming off a 4-1 beatdown of the Penguin Scum last night where they frustrated Canadian Diving Team Captain, Secondary Assist Cindy Crosby, and chased Marc-Andre Fluery from the game. The win last night was a nice rebound from their season opening loss at home 3-2 in overtime to Montreal on Wednesday night. This means the Canes are wrapping up a three games in four nights run to open up the season while the Caps are in game two of theirs.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Open Source Intelligence:

Raleigh News & Observer: Staal and Ward on fire, three Staals now, eye on the Canes. Canes.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

If the Caps can come out with the same intensity tonight that they did last night, the Caps should be alright. However, so far this season, this isn't the same Canes team that struggled to find their way last season. Staal has been playing well to start the season and the Caps will have their hands full with this team. A good home crowd can provide energy for both teams to it is incumbent on the Caps to get out to another quick start.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 5
Canes 2
Winner by Kozlov

(0-1 on the season)