Caps @ Blue Jackets 2-5-2008 Wrap Up/ Caps @ Flyers 2-6-2008 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post. Times.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com AP Wire.

The Other Side:

Columbus Dispatch: double shot, converting. Blue Jackets.com.

Final Thoughts:

54 down, 28 to go.



Washington Capitals (25-29; 55 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 10th Eastern Conference, 21st Overall) @ Philadelphia Flyers (30-22; 63 points; 1st Atlantic Divsion, 2nd Eastern Conference, 5th Overall):
Caps Game #55, Road Game #28, NHL Game #814

Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic Plus. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Philadelphia TV: Comcast Sportsnet Philadelphia. Radio: WWIP 610-AM. National TV: NHL Network. NHL Center Ice: None (The NHL Network will carry the Philadelphia Broadcast with the NHL Network's own intermission activities.)

Tonight the Caps look to earn a split of the season series with the Flyers by sweeping the games in Philadelphia. The Caps posted a 4-3 overtime win the day after Thanksgiving in their last trip to Philly and have now won three in a row in Philadelphia. It's the Flyers turn to sit atop the Atlantic Division right now as the Flyers have won three of their last four including last night's 3-2 win in Atlanta.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Philadelphia Daily News: Finnishing, even stronger strength, tickets available. Philadelphia Inquirer: Finnish Mastery, notes, honoring baldy.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

As has been the case all season, the watch word for the Caps when playing the Flyers is discipline. The Flyers like to goon things up in order to draw retaliation penalties which allows for their 2nd ranked Power Play unit to go to work. So the Caps needed to be extra careful to stay out of the penalty box tonight. They also need to tighten up their play in front of Olie Kolzig as the last time these two teams met, the Flyers scored too many goals off of pucks they dug out of Kolzig's pads. With the Flyers honoring Ron Hextall before the game and during the first intermission tonight there should be plenty of extra emotion from the Flyers tonight. Throw in the fact that both teams are in dogfights for first place in their divisions, this could a rather explosive game.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 3
Flyers 5
Winner by Richards

(29-25 on the season)