This Is Getting Old: Penguins Gameday #36 (Caps)

Penguins (23-10-2, 48 pts)

Capitals (10-12-4, 44 pts)

Where: Verizon Center

When: 7:00

TV: FSN

On paper, this game is worth 2 points. But the pride, hype, and the fact that essentially an entire HBO episode will be dedicated to this game takes this matchup to the next level. Pens are coming off a dominant win but they do have to travel. Caps had the day off. Get ready, because this is gonna be a wild one.

Opponents to Watch:

Alex Ovechkin: Self-explanatory. Don't let him get his feet set on the powerplay and keep an eye on him when he brings the puck up the ice from the D-Zone.

John Carlson: Working his way into the spot of being Washington's best D-Man, and the two-way skills set he offers is probably more dangerous than Green.

Nicklas Backstrom: Don't let him pass to OV. Don't let OV pass to him.

CAPS STATS:

Win %: .611 (8th)
Powerplay: 20.0% (10th)
Penalty Kill: 83.3% (10th)
Goals For: 107 (7th)
Goals Against: 98 (19th)
Differential: +9
Faceoffs: 52.0% (5th)

-Caps have only lost 1 OT game when leading after 2, but have only come back twice when losing after 2.
-Washington, like Pittsburgh, does the majority of their scoring in the 2nd period.
-Both Washington and Pittsburgh lead the league at 9-2 in winning games in which they were outshot.

KEYS TO VICTORY:

-Shut down the 2 Alexs
-Goaltending
-Establish a solid physical presence without getting nasty.

NOTES:

-Dustin Jeffrey has been recalled from WBS, probably to replace Asham.

-Don't know what the situation is for Johnson. If he cannot back up Fleury, the Pens may need to fly in a WBS goalie. The only problem is that both Curry (Minnesota) and Theissen (Canada) will be quite far away on a holiday break so they should move fast.

-Caps look healthy