Caps vs. Wild 11-13-2009 Wrap Up/ Caps @ Devils 11-14-2009 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post.  Times.  Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

The Other Side:

St. Paul Pioneer Press: out of gas, proving performance. Star Tribune: gased out, love to host, recap.  Wild.com.

Final Thoughts:

We do think we can thank the schedule makers for this one...

19 down, 63 to go.


Washington Capitals (12-7; 28 points) @ New Jersey Devils (13-4; 26 points):
Caps Game #20, Road Game #9, NHL Game #270

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

Tonight the Caps look for their fifth win in a row for the second time this season when they travel to Newark to face the New Jersey Devils.  This is the third time the Caps have faced the Devils this season and the Caps have lost both times by a score of 3-2 though one of those losses came in a gimmick.  Both teams are wrapping up three games in four nights runs.  Since beating the Caps on home ice 10 days ago, the Devils have continued their winning ways by winning all four games to push their winning streak to seven games including Thursday night's 4-1 win in Pittsburgh over the Penguin Scum.  As a matter of fact, the Devils have yet to lose a game in the month of November.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

The Record.  The Star-Ledger.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

Last night the Caps were the beneficiaries of playing at home with one day of rest against a team coming in after playing the night before.  Tonight, the Caps are the team that had to travel after playing a game.  So while it is always important to get off to a fast start against New Jersey, it will be doubly so tonight as the Caps will see their own energy level drop as the game progresses.  If he is ready, getting A.O. back in the lineup will provide some energy.  The Caps could also catch the Devils looking ahead tonight.  After winning seven games in a row and nine straight to open their road schedule, the Devils play on the road again on Monday night where they can tie the NHL record for most wins on the road to start a season.  But New Jersey hasn't given up more than 2 goals in their current seven game winning streak so even if A.O. comes back from injury tonight, the Caps will need the "secondary scoring" to continue to pull out a win tonight.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Devils 4
Winner Zubrus
(7-12 on the season with one perfect game)