Pre-Game: Capitals vs Lightning

The Washington Capitals (7-4-2) welcome home an array of former Capitals tonight against Tampa Bay. Matt Pettinger, Steve Eminger, and Olie Kolzig will all play tonight for the first time against their former team. The Lightning (5-4-4) had lofty expectations coming into the year with big off-season pick-ups, but got off to a slow start (1-3-3). Since then, they have picked up the pace and have won four of the last six.

• Washington won the season series last year, 6-2, and have a five game win streak against Tampa.
• The Capitals are the only team in the Eastern Conference that is undefeated at home in regulation (5-0-1). They are among San Jose, Edmonton, and Chicago as the only undefeated teams (at home) in the NHL.
• Cap killers Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis combined for seven goals and thirteen assists in the eight meetings the teams had last year.
• 2008 1st overall pick, Steve Stamkos, has just four points (2-2-4) on the year and has only scored in one game.
  
• Kolzig is going to make his third start of the young season. Olie is 1-1-1 with a 2.67 GAA, allowing two goals or less in two of his three starts.
• Brent Johnson will make his fourth straight start. He was recently named Third Star of the Week with his 2-0-1/1.63/.953 stat line.
• The last time Washington played without Kolzig on their roster was in 1995. It took Olie 14 games and eight starts before he won his first NHL game. The Capitals were victorious against the Islanders 5-2 at the US Airways Arena.
• Alex Ovechkin has the least amount of points (27) and shots (121) against the Lightning compared to other Southeast Division foes.
• Washington should look to get on the board first as Tampa Bay is 2-3-2 when the opposition scores first. The Lightning have also had trouble holding leads and are 3-1-2 (.500 win % is second to last in the league) when leading at the first intermission.