Game #62
Caps (41-13-7, 89 points) at St. Louis (27-25-9, 63 points)
One more chance for the Caps to get a win on this three-game road trip at Scottrade Center. Then Alex Ovechkin, Alex Semin, Semyon Varlamov, Nicklas Backstrom and Tomas Fleischmann are off to Vancouver and the 2010 Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, the rest of their teammates are off on vacation – an important break for those injured, including defensemen Tom Poti (groin) and John Erskine (shoulder). Jason Chimera is on injured reserve with a groin strain, too. Defenseman John Carlson has been recalled from AHL Hershey and forward Chris Bourque has been returned to the Bears.
Washington needs a better defensive effort in front of goalie Jose Theodore, who gets the start tonight. It has alowed 23 goals over the last five games and keeps falling behind early in the first period. Of course, the Caps have also scored five goals in all of those games, too. It’s made for more than a few wild nights. Ovechkin, Semin and Brooks Laich have each recorded a hat trick the last three games – the first time that’s happened in team history.
St. Louis hasn’t been kind to the Caps over the years. They last won there in 1996-97, an 0-7 mark. The last meeting in Missouri was Oct. 27, 2007. Brad Boyes scored 45 seconds into the game and St. Louis took a 2-0 lead. Two Mike Green goals tied it, but Boyes scored late in the second period and David Backes – a United States Olympian this season – added an insurance tally early in the third to make it 4-2. Michael Nylander scored a late goal in a 4-3 loss. Washington returned the favor last Dec. 18 at Verizon Center – a 4-2 win in a game started by Varlamov. Viktor Kozlov scored twice for the Caps in that one.
The Blues were expected to contend for a playoff berth after making it last season with a ton of young talent on the roster. Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out that way. They sit 12th in the Western Conference standings and have already fired head coach Andy Murray. Then again – the Blues are only four points out of the eighth spot so the Caps will have to deal with another desperate team. St. Louis whipped Toronto on Friday night at Scottrade Center, a 4-0 shutout. Chris Mason is expected in goal again for the Blues.
