Caps @ Devils 11-4-2009 Preview

Washington Capitals (8-6; 20 points) @ New Jersey Devils (8-4; 16 points):
Caps Game #15, Road Game #7, NHL Game #204


Prudential Center, Newark, NJ, 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WFED 1500-AM. New Jersey TV: MSG Plus. Radio: WFAN 660-AM.  Canadian National TV: RIS (French)  NHL Center Ice: MSG Plus, Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic feeds.

Tonight, the Caps hit the road looking to snap their two-game losing streak when they face the New Jersey Devils.  The Caps are facing New Jersey for the second time this season, the Caps lost the first meeting on Columbus Day at home, 3-2, in a game that was decided by a gimmick.  The Devils have won their last two games and five of the last seven since winning a gimmick in Washington on Columbus Day and won in similar fashion on Halloween in Tampa against the Ning, 2-1, in their last outing.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post.  Times.  Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

New York Post.  The Record.  The Star-Ledger.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

Well, life without A.O. begins tonight and the Caps certainly could use the point a game he averages against New Jersey even if the Devils weren't averaging 1 goal allowed in their last five wins.  The Devils have been struggling on home ice winning only once in five games so far this season.  So what we have here tonight is two teams with something to prove.  The Devils last game at home was their least impressive this season, a 4-1 loss to the Buffaslugs, but with the Devils playing better of late, the Caps will have to play better themselves.  The Caps showed us in the third period on Sunday that they can grind games out and score the "ugly" goals they've been criticized for not scoring in the last two playoff runs, so scoring goals against a Martin Brodeur shouldn't be too hard for the Caps.  However, the Caps will have to tighten up on the defensive end and New Jersey being ranked 24th on the Power Play certainly helps as Columbus is ranked 9th and the late penalties cost the Caps big time on Sunday.  The Caps are starting another three games in four nights stretch tonight with two of the three games coming on the road.  The Caps are still a month away from their first extended road trip and now would certainly be a good time to start perfecting their "road hockey" skills.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 1
Devils 3
Winner by Parise
(5-9 on the season with one perfect game that looks to be our high water mark this season...)