Caps vs. Canadiens 11-20-2009 Preview

Washington Capitals (13-8; 30 points) vs. Montreal Canadiens (10-11; 20 points):
Caps Game #22, Home Game #12, NHL Game #307

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WFED 1500-AM. Montreal TV: None. Radio: CJAD 800-AM.  Canadian National TV: TSN, RDS (French)  NHL Center Ice: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic and TSN feeds.

Tonight, the Caps come home to start a four games in six nights run heading into Thanksgiving with three games in four nights when they face the Montreal Canadiens for the first time this season.  The Caps swept the Canadiens on home ice last season when they took three of the four matchups though the most recent win on home ice came courtesy of a gimmick.  The Canadiens made many changes this past off season and are still trying to get things together.  They're 3-3 in their last six games including Tuesday night's 3-2 gimmick win at home over the Carolina Hurricanes.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post.  Times.  Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

The Gazette.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

The one thing the Caps, who have quickly turned into the walking wounded, don't want to do tonight is work overtime.  Montreal has not lost after regulation in eight games so far this season.  We'll get a good look tonight at the organizational depth as John Carlson makes his much anticipated NHL debut on the Caps blueline and Michal "Bebe" Neuvirth makes his season debut in goal.  Though that's not to say that Montreal comes in at full health.  They lost Brian Gionta to a broken foot earlier this week and good news for A.O., Hall Gill will be out as well.  Look for special teams to be a factor tonight, the Caps have crawled all the way to #2 overall in the NHL with their Power Play Unit but Montreal, while 24th overall, is 11th overall on the road with the Power Play.  The Caps Penalty Killing is still struggling, coming in at 23rd and only 78% effective, but 6th overall at home at 86% effectiveness.  The Canadiens are 26th on the road and and 15th overall killing penalties.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 4
Canadiens 2
Winner by Laich
(9-12 on the season with one perfect game)