Pre-Game: Capitals @ Hurricanes

I have tons of school work today, the Capitals game to watch, and the Redskins game to watch, so I will keep it relatively short:

• After scoring his AHL-leading 18th goal of the season, Alexandre Giroux, was rewarded with a call-up. He last played in the NHL in 2007. Washington is 2-7 with Giroux in the lineup, and 2-0 when he scores.
• The Capitals will have 11 former Bears players in the lineup tonight. I'm intrigued to see if Giroux and Keith Aucoin can keep their chemistry going like they had in the AHL. Aucoin leads the AHL in points, and Giroux leads the AHL in goals.
• Jose Theodore will get the start tonight...It looked as though Brent Johnson might have pulled/tweaked something before conceding a goal to Nik Antropov last night. JT60 is 2-0 at the RBC Center in his last two outings.
• Carolina is currently second worst in the power play (13.5%) and bottom six in home penalty kill. The Hurricanes average a low 2.5 goals-per-game and are tied for last with just 16 1st period goals...The Capitals are second in the league with 31 goals-for in the opening frame.
  
• Nicklas Backstrom has 10 points in 10 games against Carolina. His last game against the Canes, he scored a goal and added three assists.