Caps vs. Buffaslugs 12-14-2007 Wrap Up/ Caps @ Ning 12-15-2007 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post. Caps.com.

The Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

The Other Side:

The Loserville...er...Buffalo News: Caps taxed, Kane arrives.

Final Thoughts:

32 down, 50 to go.


Washington Capitals (12-20; 26 points) @ Tampa Bay Lightning (14-18; 31 points):
Caps Game #33, Road Game #17, NHL Game #475

St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, FL. 7:37 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Tampa TV: Channel 66. Radio: WDAE 620-AM. NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

Tonight the Caps head out on the road for the first of two games on the road when they travel down to Tampa to face the Ning. This is the fourth meeting between the Caps and the Ning with the Ning winning the last two after the Caps won the first game. The Ning's goaltending and defense has been MIA recently giving up a whopping 20 goals in the last 4 games with nine of them coming in their last game which was Thursday night at home. That was a 9-6 loss to Calgary which was their third loss in the last four games.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

St. Petersberg Times: young blueline, more injuries, up next. Tampa Tribune.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

Once again the Caps season stands at a crossroads. Brent Johnson is in net tonight for Olie Kolzig and the Caps already know that they have to step things up when Kolzig isn't in net. But after last night, they'll have to show that what happened last night was a fluke and not the three game winning that just ended. The Caps will need to avoid taking penalties like they did last night and need to jump on the Ning early. The Ning have been struggling lately and should the Caps get on the board early and often, they can easily win this game. But as it came down to last week, it is all about how badly the Caps want to turn things around.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 4
Ning 2
Winner by Pettinger

(21-11 on the season)