Caps @ Buffaslugs 12-9-2009 Preview

Washington Capitals (19-11; 44 points) @ Buffaslugs (16-11; 34 points):
Caps Game #31, Road Game #17, NHL Game #442

HSBC Arena, Loserville....er...Buffalo, NY 7:05 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WFED 1500-AM. Loserville...er...Buffalo TV: MSG-B. Radio: WWGR 550-AM.  NHL Center Ice: MSG-B feed and our sincere condolences for having no alternative to Rick Jeanneret tonight.

Tonight, the Caps finish off a three game road trip and start a three games in four nights run when they head up to Loserville...er...Buffalo for the first time this season to face the Buffaslugs.  This is the second meeting between the two teams this season with the Caps pitching a 2-0 shutout at home against the Buffaslugs just two weeks ago.  Since then, the Bufffaslugs had a four game winning streak snapped by a 2-1 loss to the New York Rangers at home on Saturday night.  In their last game on Monday night, the Buffaslugs helped Martin Brodeur tie Terry Sawchuk's shutout record when they were blanked for the third time this season 3-0 for their second consecutive loss.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post: Big Brother, Game Preview.  Times.  Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

The Loserville...er...Buffalo News:  unhappy coach, return bout.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

We find it interesting how the Caps current six game winning streak started against the Buffaslugs, a franchise they've had the most trouble with throughout their history, and now the Caps are looking to beat the Buffaslugs again to extend that streak to seven games which would be their longest this season.  Again looking into history, the Caps haven't had much success up in Loserville...er...Buffalo posting an All-Time record of 18-40-6 (and by that we mean six actual tied games).  But three times since the lockout, the Caps have split the two games in Loserville...er...Buffalo.  So maybe there is a little hope for the Caps tonight.  On the other side, the Buffaslugs rolled into town two weeks ago riding a three game losing streak and the Caps extended it to four with the beatdown.  If the Caps want to extend the Buffaslugs current losing streak to three games tonight, they'll have to play another close checking and low scoring game because while the Buffalsugs don't score many goals, they don't give up many either as they are currently 4th in the NHL in Goals Allowed per Game.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Buffaslugs 4
Winner by Vanek

(14-16 on the season with one perfect game)


Editorial Note For The Dozens of Readers of This Blog:

In case you haven't noticed, Tis the Season once again and that means we have yet another holiday gathering to attend tonight.  Therefore, there will be no Post-Mortem later.