Game # 23
Caps (13-5-4, 30 points) at Toronto Maple Leafs (3-11-6, 12 points)
The best team in the Eastern Conference faces the worst tonight at Air Canada Centre. Caps are coming off a 3-2 loss at home to Montreal. The Maple Leafs? They are winless in five – including a shootout loss to Carolina on Thursday where they blew a 3-0 lead and allowed the game-tying goal with two seconds left – and have the league’s worst penalty kill (72.3 %). Other than that, things are great for coach Ron Wilson.
Caps coach Bruce Boudreau was adamant last night that his team wouldn’t overlook Toronto. In case they forgot who they were playing, there were reportedly close to 10,000 fans at the teams’ morning skate at ACC this morning. Yeah – this sport is a big deal in TO and tonight’s game will be broadcast across the country on the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada.
Washington is hurting. While goalie Jose Theodore did make the trip and could play Monday in Ottawa, seven other regulars from opening night are out. Defensemen Tom Poti (upper-body injury), Shaone Morrisonn (head injury) and Milan Jurcia (hamstring) are out. None made the trip so Tyler Sloan goes back to defense with rookie John Carlson still up. Forwards Boyd Gordon (back), Alex Semin (wrist), Mike Knuble (broken finger) and Quintin Laing (broken jaw) are all out as well.
Forward Andrew Gordon was recalled from AHL Hershey to fill out the roster. He is one of just 64 Nova Scotia natives to reach the NHL – other active players include Sidney Crosby, Colin White, Jon Sim and Andy McDonald. Gordon is having a nice season for the Bears with 8 goals and 12 assists in 18 games. He is also a +7. Gordon played in one NHL game last season – that wild 5-4 comeback win at Madison Square Garden over the Rangers two days before Christmas.
