Caps vs. Canadiens 1-31-2008 Preview

Washington Capitals (23-28; 51 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 12th Eastern Conference, 24th Overall) vs. Montreal Canadiens (27-23; 62 points; 2nd Northeast Division, 4th Eastern Conference, 5th Overall):
Caps Game #52, Home Game #26, NHL Game #773

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Montreal TV: None. Radio: CJAD 800-AM. Canadian National TV: RDS (French). NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

Tonight the Caps and Canadiens close out the month of January with the D.C. leg of their home-and-home that will also end the season series. Montreal has a 2-1 edge in the season series and won the last game these two teams played in D.C., 5-2, on December 20th.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

The Gazette: no lineup changes, no more injuries.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

So the Caps are upset over Montreal running up the score huh? "Well, they never should have put themselves in that position." "This is professional hockey, it is unprofessional and more embarrassing to let up on another team during the game." "The backup quarterback may be called upon to lead his team during a game that is still in doubt and needs practice running the full offense during a live regular season game." In case you haven't figured it out yet, those are the same lame excuses used to equivocate the Patriots running up the score on the Redskins back in October. But this is hockey, why didn't Bruce Boudreau deploy Mr. Donald Brashear "to send a message for the next meeting"? (At least that's what "The Crock" calls for.) But I digress, no matter how they gin it up, the Caps will need the extra motivation tonight because that one loss on Tuesday night slipped the Caps two spots down in the tightly packed Eastern Conference and Montreal has one of the best road records in the NHL. A losing streak now would be devastating so the Caps have their work cut out for them tonight. They'll need to harness that extra aggression and make sure it doesn't land them in the penalty box. Though if Shaone Morrrissonnn returns and sends John "Coach's Pet" Erskine Bowles to the Press Box where he belongs (not bloody likely), that should cut down on our penalties.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Canadiens 4
Winner by Koivu

(29-22 on the season)

Editorial Note for the Dozen Readers of This Blog:

I have a meeting tonight that I need to attend that starts at 7:30, therefore I'll be missing my first home game this season and there will be no Post-Mortem later tonight.