Game #51
Caps (32-12-6, 70 points) at Phoenix Coyotes (29-17-5, 63 points)
Philadelphia. Detroit. Pittsburgh. Phoenix. One of these teams is not like the other. The Caps won’t be able to tap into a deep well of emotion tonight when they take on the Coyotes at Verizon Center. Unlike the other three teams they faced this week, there’s little to no history between these two teams.
And that could be an issue. Phoenix is sneaky good, relying on a steady veteran group rather than the young kids who made up the bulk of the roster in recent seasons. Despite dealing with a bankruptcy case during the summer and fall and absolute chaos in its ownership situation, Phoenix is in fourth place in the Western Conference. Credit coach Dave Tippett, installed after Wayne Gretzky was deposed right before training camp. This team didn’t look anything like a playoff contender three months ago. Now? The Coyotes are right in the mix.
Combine a team it rarely sees and what is sure to be troublesome ice after a Georgetown game this afternoon and the Caps are going to have to jumpstart themselves tonight. This one is unlikely to match the previous three games in drama or excitement. Michal Neuvirth is in goal for the Caps after sitting the previous four and getting pulled the two starts before that. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau says Neuvirth played fine save for a shaky effort against Florida on Jan. 13. Otherwise, he’s either been steady or his teammates have let him down. But it’s still a big night for Neuvirth. Jose Theodore is playing better and has reclaimed his playing time. Neuvirth wants to keep himself in the mix and a good game tonight will do that – especially with the schedule-crunch of the next two weeks.
