Caps @ Buffaslugs 3-3-2010 Wrap Up/ Caps vs. Ning 3-4-2010 Preview

The Local Yokels:

(Com)Post: back to work, making moves.  Examiner.  Caps.com.

The Neutral Observers:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

The Other Side:

The Loserville...er...Buffalo News:  flat homecoming, minor moves, smart moves.

Final Thoughts:

We really apologize here folks, we overslept the alarm so all those great thoughts and analysis will be lost.

63 down, 19 to go.


Washington Capitals (42-21; 92 points; 1st Southeast Division, 1st Eastern Conference, 1st Overall) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (26-36; 63 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference, 24th Overall):
Caps Game #64, Home Game #30, NHL Game #943

Caps "Magic Numbers" (Caps Points Earned+Lost by team named) to clinch:
Playoff Spot: 11 Tampa Bay and New York Rangers
Southeast Division Championship: 14 Atlanta
Eastern Conference #1 Seed: 27 New Jersey
President's Trophy: 35 San Jose and Chicago

Verizon Center, Washington, DC 7:07 pm. Washington TV: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WFED 1500-AM. Tampa TV: Sunshine Network. Radio: WDAE 620-AM.  U.S. National TV: NHL Network (Carrying Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic feed). NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight, the Caps return to home ice for the first time since Super Bowl Sunday when they face the Tampa Bay Lightning to start a season long five game homestand.  This is the fourth of six meetings between the two teams this year and second in a row at the Phone Booth.  The Caps have won two of the three games so far this season to continue their dominance over the Ning and won the last outing at home, 3-2 back on January 31st.  Since we last saw the Ning, their circus ownership has officially been shown the door and the new owner is making himself comfortable which of course has led to more drama in Tampa.  The Ning returned to action on Tuesday night at home when they faced the Flyers and took a 7-2 beating in the process.

What The Natives Are Saying:

Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com.  AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

St. Petersburg Times: sale finalized, one trade, Game Preview.  Tampa Tribune: keeping tight, sale closed.

What Do We Expect Tonight?:

Again folks really quickly here, the trades yesterday had a positive effect on the team last night as the role and depth players played well last night as the Caps now have some more depth and role players to work with over the final 19 games and through the playoffs.  The Caps didn't give up a whole lot to make these moves and they aren't crippled going forward as every single player acquired is a UFA after the season ends.  As for tonight, you have to expect the new guys will be put into the lineup somewhere so while the chemistry might be off a tad off again tonight; the level of play should be up as three guys who were on teams going nowhere are now on a Cup contender.  That should give the Caps a little boost playing on back-to-back nights.  As for the Ning, they are team that for some reason can't get out of their own way.  Hopefully with the new ownership things will settle down for them but they shouldn't be a problem for the Caps tonight.  Finally we were stunned at how bad the ice looked last night in Loserville...er...Buffalo.  We take that as a sign that the ice tonight at the Phone Booth will be particularly awful as it is used for the first time in 32 days.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 5
Ning 2
Winner by Walker
(33-30 on the season with one perfect game)