Pre-Game: Capitals @ Lightning

Here's hoping for at least one more game of this for tonight:

Post-Game: Capitals @ Rangers

It's hard to believe that Marek Malik's incredible shootout goal against Washington happened more than three years ago at the Garden. Only five Capitals remain on from that team (plus Poti and Nylander from the Rangers), and unfortunately for Washington, it only took New York four rounds to beat the Caps this time:

• Mike Green. I knew something was special when he scored that coast-to-coast goal against the Avalanche in 2006. Enough with the "He's not a true 'D' man." I could care less. He's got as many goals as Sidney Crosby does....and Sidney is spotting him 12 games. Just give him the Norris already.
• Milan Jurcina looked out of position on one two three of the Rangers goals. But then again, why am I surprised?
• Shaone Morrisonn is playing his way out of a spot. The Caps got an extra defenceman for a reason, and ShaMo might be that reason.
• Alex Ovechkin was contained pretty well by Marc Staal and the rest of the Blueshirts. His 13 hits were more than double the highest hit total for a NYR player.
• Jay Beagle played pretty solid in his NHL debut...Look for a post coming up real soon about him. (Just 2/7 on face-offs, but its hard to fault the kid).
  
• It's about time Donald Brashear does something...He seems to like fighting against the Rangers. Was Bradley's fight really necessary? Oh well, the Caps need more fighting anyways.
  

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Rangers

A week ago, the Capitals found themselves in second place, one point above the Devils who were hosting the Caps on February 3rd. A loss and Washington would drop to third place, a win and the Caps would continue to push forward in hopes of catching the Boston Bruins. Solid goaltending and five goals scored against one of the league's stingiest defenses proved to be too much for the Devils.

A week later, the Caps find themselves in the same position. A win against the Rangers and Washington can retain second place. But if the Devils crush beat the Islanders tonight, they can take over second place.

The Rangers are struggling mightily and have the same number of goals (five) in their last five games as Washington does in their last four periods. They can't score at home and their last win against a top eight team in the east was December 13th against Carolina...and they needed a shootout to do it. At this point, the Rangers do not look like they have what it takes to make the playoffs.

On the Caps' side of things:

Alexander Semin is injured. That's probably the 50 billionth time I've typed that sentence, but sadly it's true. So I'm guessing no Semin-Staal rematch. Or Semin could play when he should be recovering from an injury, its not like he's never done that before...

Countdown to Michal Neuvirth's first start it T-minus three games away (maybe/hopefully)...

Jose Theodore is 11-8-2/2.41/9.16 lifetime against New York and has a seven game win streak at Madison Square Garden dating back to March 2002...

Boyd Gordon has two goals on nine shots in his career against the Rangers. That's 22.2% for you math majors...Shoot Boyd, shoot!

A season sweep of the Rangers would be the first in Cap history.

Post-Game: Capitals vs Panthers

I went old school on this one and listened to it on the radio (not my choice), so there will be no post game :( .

Pre-Game: Capitals vs Panthers

While the Capitals are trying to figure out how to narrow the gap with the Conference-leading Bruins, the Panthers have crept into the 8th playoff spot and would cut the Caps' Divisional lead to 10 points with a win. Florida has failed to pick up a standings point in only two of their last 14 games. That includes a 7-2-3 month of January.

The Panthers have been extremely successful against the division, going 7-1-2 in their past 10 within the Southeast. In fact the Caps haven't even beat the Cats this year, losing the only match 5-3.

Its going to be interesting to see how (if) Staffan Kronwall and Alexandre Giroux play. Kronwall has yet to play in an NHL game this season and Giroux still leads the AHL in scoring. Washington is 9-2 in games that Giroux plays in, but 'Rooster' has just six points in 22 NHL games (one with the Rangers).

Tomas Vokoun should start tonight for Florida. Craig Anderson has only won twice since December 13th and got yanked after allowing three first-period goals in a recent game. Vokoun has struggled also, going 4-10-1 (3.22 GAA) away from Sunrise Fl. He is 6-6 lifetime versus Washington.

By now everyone has seen Richard Zednik's highlight-reel goal...Now check out what Panthers coach Peter DeBoer said about the former Cap (via Miami Herald):

''That was a great play, definitely highlight-of-the-night material,'' coach Pete DeBoer said. ``He's scored a few like that this year. He's a guy I haven't given enough credit to lately. He's starting to get rewarded at the net. . . . He's a game-breaker. Your best players have to be your best players down the stretch, and he's in that group of guys. Right now, he's delivering.''

It will be one year to the day on February 10th that Zednik suffered that freighting skate to the jugular.