Caps vs. Senators 1-15-2008 Preview

Washington Capitals (18-26; 41 points; 4th Southeast Division, 13th Eastern Conference, 27th Overall) vs. Ottawa Senators (29-15, 62 points; 1st Northeast Division, 1st Eastern Conference, 2nd Overall):
Caps Game #45, Home Game #22, NHL Game #676

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Ottawa TV: Rogers Sportsnet East. Radio: TEAM 1200-AM. NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

Break out the brooms boys and girls because tonight the Caps will go for the sweep of the season series with the Ottawa Senators. This is the third matchup in the past 17 days between these two teams and a Washington win tonight would make the Caps responsible for a quarter of the Senator's losses this season. The Caps have outscored Ottawa by a count of 18-10 in the three games so far this season with the closest game being the December 29th 8-6 shootout. Ottawa has lost their last three trips into the Phone Booth and had their four game winning streak snapped on Sunday with a 3-1 loss at home to the New York Islanders.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Ottawa Citizen: disgusted, insulted, gameday. Ottawa Sun: hurting, angry, lookout for. Senators.com.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

On New Year's Day the Senators came out like a team that was ready to run us out of our own building and by the end of the first period, they were getting run out of our building and looked like a spooked hockey team. For whatever reason the Caps have their number this season and after Sunday's uninspiring performance against the Flyers, the Caps should have their heads on straight tonight. The Caps need to guard against over confidence because their key to beating Ottawa so far this season has been their relentless play against the Senators in all three zones. The Caps will need to stay on the Senators and a quick goal or two would also greatly help tonight as I don't think this is going to be a low scoring affair.

Caps Nut Offical Prediction:

Caps 5
Senators 3
Winner by Gordon.

(27-17 on the season)