Caps vs. Islanders 10-11-2009 Preview

Washington Capitals (10-7; 24 points) vs. New York Islanders (6-11; 17 points):
Caps Game #18, Home Game #10, NHL Game #249


Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WFED 1500-AM. New York TV: MSG Plus 2. Radio: WMCJ 94.3-FM.  U.S. National TV: NHL Network using Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Feed. NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight, the Caps look for their third win in a row when they host the New York Islanders for the second and final time this season.  The Islanders were in D.C. just 12 days ago where they came from behind twice to win in overtime 4-3 to even the season series at one win a piece.  Since then, the Islanders have won three of their five games including their last outing on Saturday when they defeated the Atlanta Thrashers at home 6-3.  Tonight is the start of a three games in four nighst stretch for both teams and the Islanders kickoff a seven game roadtrip with tonight's contest.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post.  Times.  Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

New York Post.  Newsday (if you want to pay for a subscription).

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

Well folks, this game tonight could very well end up like what we saw on Saturday night, a wild, back-and-forth game that just keeps getting crazier and crazier.  We now know that the Caps don't need A.O. in the lineup or Alexander "Slappy" Semin playing well to score seven goals in a game.  The issue now is consistency.  Will the Caps consistently fight to get to the front of the net like they did on Saturday night?  Sure Scott Clemmensen had a bad night but if the Caps go to the front of the net and stay out of the penalty box, there's no reason to think that they cannot beat the Islanders.  What they will have to avoid are the lackadaisical efforts that they've turned in recently when playing New York.  While the Islanders have just one win on the road this season, it came in the Phone Booth 12 days ago and that should serve as enough of a warning to the Caps to take tonight's game seriously.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 3
Islanders 2
Winner by Knuble
(5-12 on the season with one perfect game)