Caps @ Devils 12-7-2007 Wrap Up/ Caps vs. Thrashers 12-8-2007 Preview

Sorry about the lack of a Post-Mortem last night, it has been a long week and I really didn't pay close attention to the game last night.

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post. Times: another loss, Caps Report.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire.

The Other Side:

Newark Star-Ledger: Rocking along, Mullet Melrose apology tour. New York Post. The Record: Ho-hum win, Mullet Melrose treated well. Devils.com.

Final Thoughts:

While it's good to see Bruce Boudreau publicly lighting a fire under these guys for their poor and inconsistent play, you have to wonder if the problem with this team really is the coach. But we'll find out soon enough.

28 down, 54 to go.


Washington Capitals (9-19; 20 points) vs. Atlanta Thrashers ( 14-14; 29 points):
Caps Game #29, Home Game #13, NHL Game #423

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Atlanta TV: SportSouth. Radio: WCNN 680-AM. NHL Center Ice: SportSouth feed.

Tonight the Caps return home to kick off a four game homestand against the Atlanta Thrashers. The Thrashers have won the last two meetings between the teams after losing the season opener. The last time the Caps faced the Thrashers, the 5-1 loss on Thanksgiving eve cost Glen Hanlon his job and put Boudreau behind the bench the next day. The Thrashers won last night at home against the Rangers 4-2 and have won 3 of their last 4 games.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Kovalchuk stopped, record pace.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

How is it that the Caps keep having pivotal games against Atlanta? A 2-1 overtime loss last month in Atlanta in what I felt was a must win game got me on the fire Hanlon bandwagon. An ugly 5-1 loss on Thanksgiving eve to the Thrashers ended the Hanlon era. Tonight with Boudreau publicly calling out his team the Caps will show if they're going to respond to Boudreau or if this team and this season is totally lost. While Atlanta has been playing much better and winning under Don Waddell, I don't think they're that much better of a hockey team than we are. So tonight we're going to find out a lot about the Caps and how much pride and leadership there is in the lockerroom because teams usually respond very well when the coach calls them out they way Boudreau did last night. But I have to say, I don't know if this Caps team will respond the way they need to.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 4
Thrashers 3
Winner by Semin

(17-11 on the season)