Caps vs. Rangers 2-10-2008 Preview

Washington Capitals (26-30; 57 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference, 22nd Overall) vs. New York Rangers (28-30; 62 points; 4th Atlantic Division, 7th Eastern Conference, 14th Overall):
Caps Game #57, Home Game #29, NHL Game #844

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 1:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. New York TV: MSG. Radio: WEPN 1050-AM. NHL Center Ice: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic feed.

In what was originally scheduled as an NBC Sunday Matinee has turned into a regular old Sunday Matinee as for some reason NBC and the NHL don't feel the need to showcase the NHL's leading scorer in points and goals who is also the clear favorite to win the MVP award along with strong Coach-of-the-Year and Rookie-of-the Year candidates in favor of a bunch of geezers playing in a in half-filled arena. (Bitter??? Me??? No.....) The Caps are looking to forge a split in the season series with the Rangers today as New York won the first two games which were in New York and the Caps won the last game which was in D.C. in December. The Rangers have been all over the map recently; winning two, then losing two. They won yesterday in Philadelphia over the Flyers 2-0.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

New York Daily News: saved the day, 5 things.

The Idiocy of Larry Brooks:

Swatting Flyers.

What Do I Expect Today?:

Since the All-Star break ended, the Caps have not played very well in the first period and that needs to change. I've noted before how the Caps seem to play better once they get behind in a game and that too has to stop. The Rangers showed yesterday that they can shut things down when they need to as they figured out a way to keep the Flyers Power Play from scoring yesterday. It should be another well-packed and lively crowd today (provided they can get past the Chinese New Year's parade) that will hopefully give the Caps a lot of energy. Bruce Boudreau has shuffled up the lines again but most notable has reunited the first line that was on fire for much of January. If that will be enough today remains to be seen.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Rangers 4
Winner by Straka

(29-27 on the season)