Caps @ Thrashers 4-7-2009 Preview

Washington Capitals (48-31; 104 points; 1st Southeast Division, 2nd Eastern Conference, 4th Overall) @ Atlanta Thrashers (34-45; 74 points; 4th Southeast Division, 13th Eastern Conference, 27th Overall):
Caps Game #80, Road Game #39, NHL Game #1,188

Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA. 7:08 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM, WTOP 1050-AM. Atlanta TV: SportSouth. Radio: WCNN 680-AM. NHL Center Ice: SportSouth feed.

Tonight the Caps close out the back end of a home-and-home along with the season series with the Atlanta Thrashers when they travel down to Dixie. The Caps are looking for their first win this season in Phillips Arena as they have lost the two previous games there this season by a combined score of 12-5. The Thrashers have won eight of their last ten games on home ice.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: More Aucoin, blast from the past. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

If you thought Sunday's game was a barn burner, tonight's game could have even more fireworks as both the Caps and Thrashers are throwing goaltending prospects in between the pipes tonight. Simeon Varlamov will be getting what should be his final NHL start this season and hopefully will be able to get through this one better than his last start on Friday night against the Buffaslugs. It would be a huge help to him though if the Caps could keep Atlanta at bay, something they have not been able to do in Atlanta this season. This is a game that the Caps need to win if they want to end up with the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Devils close out their season with Toronto tonight, in Ottawa on Thursday, and Carolina on Saturday night which doesn't give the Caps much room for error, especially since Florida is still hanging onto playoff contention. Simply put, the Caps need to beat teams out of the playoffs in order to solidify their standings in the playoffs, something they've struggled with mightily here down the stretch.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Atlanta 5
Winner by Peverley

(12-10 on the season)