Caps vs. Avalanche 1-9-2008 Preview

Washington Capitals (17-25; 39 points; 4th Southeast Division, 14th Eastern Conference, 28th Overall) vs. Colorado Avalanche (22-20; 47 points; 4th Northwest Division, 9th Western Conference, 14th Overall):
Caps Game #43, Home Game #20, NHL Game #638

Verizon Center, Washington, DC 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Colorado TV: Altitude. Radio: KKFN 950-AM. Canadian National TV: TSN, RDS (French). NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

Tonight the Caps play their only game this week when they open up a five game homestand with a game against the Colorado Avalanche. This is the first and only meeting between these two teams this season and the first time the Avs have been here since March 16th, 2003; so the Phone Booth should packed to the gills. Last season the Caps beat the Avs 5-3 in Denver and have not lost at home to Colorado since October 17th, 2000, which was infamous Richard Zednik cross-checking game. The Avs have lost 5 of their last six and were shutout last night in Detroit, 1-0.

What the Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire. TSN.ca.

Open Source Intelligence:

Denver Post: shut out, McCarty comeback. Rocky Mountain News: stalled out, no starters.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

This has all the makings of a snooze-fest. Mid-January, mid-week, inter-conference game. One team has been off for the past three days and has another three day break coming up after tonight's game. The other team has just started a long road trip and played a game last night. Both teams are missing key players to injury and are on the outside looking in on the playoffs. I don't expect a barn-burner tonight because if there was a game that had 2-1 gimmick victory written all over it, this is it. The one good thing about tonight's game is that no matter what happens, we will not be giving up points to a team we're chasing or trying to pass for a playoff spot.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Avs 1
Winner by Semin.

(26-16 on the season)