NHL Image of the Night- December 27th

Daniel Carcillo of the Phoenix Coyotes is owned tossed to ice by John Zeiler of the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings recorded their second shutout in three games and blanked Phoenix 4-0. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

NHL Image of the Night- December 23rd

Shane Doan and some of his Coyotes' teammates warm-up before their game against the Colorado Avalanche. Doan had two goals, but the Coyotes' lost 5-4 in overtime. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

NHL Image of the Night- December 10th

Matt Niskanen of the Dallas Stars dives, but is too late as Martin Hanzal of the Phoenix Coyotes' scores the game-winning goal. Phoenix won the game 5-3. Photo courtesy of the Associated Press.

Fight of the Week

Fight of the Week

Post-Game: Capitals @ Coyotes

Caps lose at Phoenix, 2-1. Another dissapointing loss as the chances were there but Mikael Tellqvist played a great game compiling 31 saves en route to the victory.

Telly stole the spotlight as Jose Theodore played another great game for the Washington Capitals who just can't seem to get it right on offense, converting on 1 of 4 power plays.

Brooks Laich started off the scoring in the second period on the Power Play, with assists from Semin and Backstrom. The Power Play looked improved with more passes and less time holding the puck.

The 'Yotes got on the board early in the third period thanks to a defensive zone turnover by Tyler Sloan. Olli Jokinen picked up the puck, then passed to Mikkel Boedker who squeezed it by JT60. Four minutes later, Phoenix got a 2 on 1 odd man advantage and Shaone Morrisonn got beat back door by young star Peter Mueller.

The Capitals blew another lead on the road to make it two in a row, they will try again in Dallas in two days before returning to face Nashville on Tuesday.

Other quick hits:

• Mikael Tellqvist picked up his first win in his first start of the season.
• Mikkel Boedker scored his first goal of the season.
• The Coyotes first round pick in 2008,Viktor Tikhonov only played 2:21 after leaving the game in the first following a collision with Mike Green.
• Nicklas Backstrom got his first point since opening night.
• Jose Theodore lost for the first time in Phoenix since 2001.
  

Predictions Revisited

Wasington

Alex Ovechkin: 0 Goals, 0 Assists. Comments- Had a chance late, but could not roof the puck. He did manage 7 shots on goal. Be patient Caps fans, it's only a matter of time.

Alex Semin: 0 Goals, 1 Assist. Comments- Had a very nice toe drag that led to the Caps only goal.

Michael Nylander: 0 Goals, 0 Assists. Comments- Starting to see extended Power Play time, so the assists will begin to pile up as soon as the Alex's decide to start scoring.

Phoenix

Olli Jokinen: 0 Goals, 1 Assist. Comments- He intercepted Sloan's clearing attempt and fed Boedker for Phoenix's first tally of the night.

Mikkel Boedker: 1 Goal, 0 Assists. Comments- I called it. Received a nice feed from Jokinen, and put it between the arm and body of Jose.

Kyle Turris: 0 Goals, 0 Assists. Comments- Not much you can do in only 10 minutes of ice time.

Pre-Game: Capitals @ Coyotes

The Caps return to Jobing.com Arena for the first time since 2006, when Alex Ovechkin scored "The Goal," and the Capitals won, 6-1.



The Capitals and Coyotes are much different teams this time around as both of them offer exciting young players to compliment veteran leadership.

Phoenix chooses to go with Mikael Tellqvist tonight, who will get his first start of the young season. Telly sports a 1-1 record against the Caps with a save percentage just under .900.

Washington will counter with Jose Theodore who is beginning to look like the Jose Theodore of past years (Montreal Jose).

The biggest concern for Capitals fans is wondering when "it" will click. Nicklas Backstrom has struggled at the start of his first two seasons, but Alex Ovechkin is struggling as well. When these stars are playing up to potential, and the power play is clicking, who knows how good this team can be.

Predictions:

Washington

Alex Ovechkin: 1 Goal, 1 Assist. Comments- He will make a memorable return to the venue of the 2005 Goal of the Year.

Alex Semin: 1 Goal, 0 Assists. Comments- This will be a "Sportscenter Top 10" goal and give the fans another 'Alex' to be in amazement at. Hopefully it will make up for the dumb slashing penalty he will take.

Michael Nylander: 0 Goals, 2 Assists. Comments- Once the Capitals realize that Nyles belongs on the Power Play, good things will start happening.

Phoenix

Olli Jokinen: 1 Goal, 1 Assist. Comments- This Cap-killer has a stat line of 14-15-29 against Washington.

Mikkel Bodeker: 1 Goal, 0 Assists. Comments- Absolutely love this Danish kid. He will be a big name in the years to come.

Kyle Turris: 0 Goals, 2 Assists. Comments- Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008-2009 Rookie of the Year.

Final Score

Washington 4 Phoenix 2

Comments- I correctly predicted last game that the Caps would take bad penalties and the Flames would score on the Power Play, but this game will be different. Washington will be a little more discipline, and if they can stop Phoenix's young fire power, they can get the win.