Caps vs. Canes 12-11-2009 Wrap Up/ Caps @ Maple Thug Leafs 12-12-2009 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post.  Examiner.  Times.  Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

The Other Side:

Sorry kids, nothing but the folks down in Carolina are doing nothing re-running the AP Wire and NHL.com stories.

Final Thoughts:

32 down, 50 to go.


Washington Capitals (20-12; 46 points) @ Toronto Maple Thug Leafs (10-21; 27 points):
Caps Game #33, Road Game #18, NHL Game #466

Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 7:15 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic Plus. Radio: WFED 1500-AM. Toronto TV: None. Radio: CFMJ 640-AM.  Canadian National TV: CBC. NHL Center Ice: CBC feed.

Tonight the Caps head out on a four game road trip that will take them out west for the first time this season when they make a stop in Toronto to face the Thug Leafs.  This is the second matchup between the two teams with the home team winning both of the previous two games.  The Thugs Leafs have been mired at the bottom of the standings all year but have won four of their last six games.  Toronto has also won their last two home games but dropped a 5-2 decision in Boston to the Bruins on Thursday night in their last game.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Toronto Star.  Toronto Sun: alright with him, always fighting, Leafs Report.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

So once again the schedule makers put the Caps in Toronto on Hockey Night in Canada after playing a game at home the night before while the Thug Leafs were resting.  The last time this happened, the Caps and Thug Leafs authored a thoroughly boring 2-1 gimmick win for the Thug Leafs.  The Thug Leafs have improved slightly in the defensive category, Carolina has given up one more goal than they have, but are still struggling to keep teams off the scoreboard.  So if the Caps can score more than two goals they should be able to win.  But after a somewhat lifeless performance last night and playing their third game in four nights, will the Caps have the necessary jump?  Will the expected starting goaltender tonight, Michal "Bebe" Neuvirth, answer the call in the glare of the Canadian Media Capital?  His numbers in the AHL have been good but he didn't fare well in his only NHL start this season, picking up the loss in a 3-2 game against Montreal at the Phone Booth a month ago.  We can't say we like where this is heading right now.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 2
Thug Leafs 4
Winner by Kessel

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