Game #21
Caps (12-4-4, 28 points) at New York Rangers (11-8-1, 23 points)
Second meeting of the year between these two and a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup playoff series that went seven games. Rangers won 4-3 at Verizon Center on Oct. 8. Caps will be without goalie Jose Theodore, who team officials say has left the team for one day to deal with a “personal matter”. Semyon Varlamov gets the start in his place. Michael Neuvirth has been recalled from AHL Hershey to be the backup. Rest of the lineup is in flux. David Steckel hopes to play, but is clearly hurting. Alex Semin didn’t participate in the morning skate, according to coach Bruce Boudreau. Is he in or is he out? Unclear. Defenseman Milan Jurcina (hamstring) and forward Boyd Gordon (back) are out. Mike Knuble (broken finger) is obviously out – at least three weeks. Forward Jay Beagle has also been recalled from Hershey. Oh – and that Ovechkin guy is expected to play for the first time since Nov. 1, but no one will say that for sure. Got all that? Caps will try and leave NYC with a split after a rough effort against the Devils in Newark on Saturday night. Will have more after Boudreau’s pregame chat with the media from MSG.
