Game #21: Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs (CBC-HD, 7:00PM, 11/21/09)

[FelixTheCat]

            

Washington Capitals at Toronto Maple Leafs
(13-5-4) 30 Pts                            (3-11-6) 12 Pts




Date: Saturday, November 21st, 2009
TV: CBC HD 7:00PM EST

Projected Lineup Forwards Ovechkin – Backstrom - Fleischmann Laich – Morrison - Clark Steckel – Perreault - Fehr Sloan – Beagle - Bradley Defense Schultz – Green Poti – Carlson Erskine – Pothier Goal Varlamov Neuvirth

Projected Lineup Forwards Ponikarovsky – Stajan – Kessel Blake – Grabovsky – Hagman Kulemin – Mitchell – Stempniak Primeau – Wallin – Mayers Defense Kaberle – Finger White – Beauchemin Gunnarsson – Schenn Goal Toskala Gustavsson

Game Preview from NHL.com


 
Despite losing their last game, the Washington Capitals own the NHL's best home record. Starting a difficult stretch on the road, however, couldn't come against a weaker opponent.

On Saturday night, the banged-up Southeast Division leaders face the league-worst Toronto Maple Leafs, who will try to avoid dropping their sixth in a row.

Washington came away with its first home loss in regulation since Oct. 8 after falling 3-2 Friday to Montreal. Eric Fehr and Brendan Morrison scored for the Capitals (13-5-4), the league leaders with 81 goals.

Playing in his second game after missing six with an upper body injury, Alex Ovechkin logged almost 23 1/2 minutes and took five of the Capitals' 34 shots. He failed to record a point, though, for the fourth time this season.

Michal Neuvirth - a surprise starter in goal - finished with 19 saves in his season debut. Jose Theodore was not with the team due to personal reasons while Semyon Varlamov was given the night off but should start this game.

"The biggest thing was I didn't think we were ready at the start of the game. We were flat. ... We went out there and thought it was going to be an easy win," said Washington coach Bruce Boudreau.

Still, the Capitals are 7-2-3 at the Verizon Center, including a 6-4 win over Toronto on Oct. 3. Ovechkin, the two-time reigning league MVP, scored 1:17 into the game and added two assists while Alexander Semin scored his first two goals of the season and had an assist.

Ovechkin is tied with the New York Rangers' Marian Gaborik for the league lead with 15 goals.
Now, Boudreau's club will play 11 of its next 14 on the road, where it owns a 6-3-1 record. The Caps will begin the trip short-handed.

Tom Poti left early Friday with an upper body injury, joining Semin (wrist), Mike Knuble (broken finger), Boyd Gordon (back), Milan Jurcina (lower body), Quintin Laing (broken jaw) and Shaone Morrisonn (upper body) among the wounded.

In a matchup involving the NHL's two weakest teams Thursday, Toronto (3-11-6) fell alone into the cellar in heartbreaking fashion.

The Maple Leafs led 3-0 after one period against Carolina and were seconds away from ending their skid. Rookie Jonas Gustavsson, though, gave up the tying goal to Erik Cole at 19:57 and failed to stop both shooters in the tiebreaker en route to a 6-5 loss.

"We definitely let one get away there," said Matt Stajan, who scored his fifth goal. "It's been the story all year. ... Nothing's going right. We score a goal late, it seems like things are going to turn, and they get one with 2 seconds left. I'm kind of at a loss for words."

Alexei Ponikarovsky, who had a goal and an assist, tried to explain what's next for the floundering Original Six team.

"Where do you go? You go back to Toronto, you go to sleep, you wake up the next morning and you go to the practice, you stay focused on whatever needs to be done," he said. "Same old things again, all over. Just get ready for the next game and go out and win the next one."

Toronto is 1-6-2 at the Air Canada Center this season, and has alternated losses and wins in its last six home games against the Capitals.

Ponikarovsky and Mikhail Grabovski each had a goal and an assist in the loss at Washington last month.
Toronto could be without enforcer Colton Orr (foot), according to the team's official Web site. He leads the club with 59 penalty minutes.

GO LEAFS GO!!!

[Bender]

Leafs blow a 4-0 lead. Lose 6-5 in OT with 1.8 seconds left.

[szane]

oh god. why can't we just play Carolina 82 times.. at least we can be a .500 team. 

[Captain Obvious]

meh

[Manson]

I'm thinking 8-4 Washington.

[CarltonTheBear]

I'm thinking 8-4 Washington.

I feel confident in saying that both our goalies will see action.

[TheMightyOdin]

I'm thinking that just because they seem to have completely no chance of winning this game that they some how do win......... Who am I kidding? This could get ugly.

[drummond]

I'm thinking 8-4 Washington.

It is going to be worse, 8-2 Caps

[Leafaholic99®]

I'm thinking 8-4 Washington.

I'm thinking you need to shut-up !!! jk

I am expecting Ovechkin and the Caps to be pissed off about Friday's loss and to destroy the Leafs.

Here is to hoping I'm wrong.

PLEASE LEAFS PLEASE

PLEASE LEAFS PLEASE

PLEASE LEAFS PLEASE

[PG]

7-2 Caps

[nutman]

I can honestly say i don't care who wins, this has been total crap to this point. i have been a fan for 40 yrs and this whole thing stinks. like i said a while ago the coach and gm lost the team when they went back on there word right from the start of the season. they said if you don't bring it your off to the farm, no matter how much you earn. well lets use stajan and wallan as two examples that have not showed up, yet there still here. no one believes there threats.

i will say we get another blowout, caps will crush us, ov's shinning up his stick as we sit here, lololol. oh i am calling it a day for a while i just cant keep watching this crap, my heart wont take it. i will just pop on here and check the score and chat. I'll let the TV have a rest, and save the money i spend at the ACC.

[JohnK's Revenge]

Ovie's gotta make up for time off.  It is going to be ugly.  On the bright side stajan gets a hat trick...ha ha ha ha ha

[TML67]

I would like to see the Leafs turn this thing around but just don't see tonight's game as winnable. I mean if you can't hold a lead against the Canes how would you hold off Ovechkin and company? Sigh.

[Coslopus]

Poor Toskala.

He's just never gonna get that first win, is he......

Caps 6-3

Kessel, Beauchemin, Kulemin

Ovie, Laich (2), Morrison, Fleischmann, Steckel

[Boston Leaf]

I hate playng the Caps and watching Ovechkins celebrations.. I hope someone takes him out