GAME ON! Caps @ Bruins 10-1-2009 Preview

Washington Capitals (0-0; 0 points) @ Boston Bruins (0-0; 0 points):
Caps Game #1, Road Game #1, NHL Game #1

TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA. 7:07 pm. Washington TV: None. Radio: WJFK 106.7-FM. Boston TV: None. Radio: WWBZ 98.5-FM. National TV: Versus. NHL Center Ice: None.

After getting hosed out of a spot in the Winter Classic, the Caps are given the consolation prize of playing the NHL's curtain jerker (that means first match you sickos...) in the same city against the same opponent, only indoors in October instead. The teams finished 1-2 atop the Eastern Conference last year and both went out in the Second Round last spring. The Caps won the season series last year, 3-1.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times: here we go again, all or nothing, looking in-house, season preview, talk of dynasty, frozen out. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com. AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Boston Globe: his way or the highway, starting the push, gimmick preparation, Caps Thumbnails. Boston Herald: looking way ahead, fast start wanted, Bruins Preview, gonna play, Game Preview.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

In home openers the emotional advantage always goes to the home team. They're the ones excited and pumped up to be playing in front of their fans for the first time. In a game between two evenly matched teams, that could be all the difference Boston needs to win this game tonight. The Caps shouldn't be taken too aback by opening the season on the road, this is the fourth year in a row that they've done it, only the Caps aren't opening up in Atlanta like they've have in the past two seasons. Both teams feel as though they have something to prove this season and are expected to be playing deep into the playoffs and could end up facing each other in them. Last year the Caps felt that they had built a mental edge on Boston, beating them 3 out of 4 times. But while neither team has changed dramatically, this is a new season folks.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Boston 4
Winner by Bergeron