Game #27
Caps (15-5-6, 36 points) at Carolina Hurricanes (5-16-5, 15 points)
First game of the year between these two Southeast Division rivals. This one’s a bit odd, though. The Hurricanes have long been a difficult matchup for the Caps. But this year injuries and age have caught up to them. Carolina has the fewest points in the NHL. It finally broke a franchise record-tying 14-game winless streak by taking three out of four. Then it promptly dropped all four games played last week. Just doesn’t seem like the Canes have much going for them this year.
And yet – this is still a team that made the Eastern Conference finals last season. It has a 12-8-2 record against Washington since 2006. The Caps are 3-8 at RBC Center over the previous three seasons and that list includes a bunch of stinkers – a pair of 5-0 shutouts, a 6-2 loss and a 6-3 loss. The two teams have split their last 14 meetings, but Carolina won the season series in 07-08 and 08-09 thanks to an extra point from shootout losses.
So will the Caps roll over a weakened opponent, grab two points and get out of town? Or will the Hurricanes snap out of their tailspin for one night against a division rival? Veteran Michael Leighton again gets the start in goal for Carolina in place of the injured Cam Ward (leg laceration). He is 1-1 in two career games against Washington with six goals allowed. Sounds like Jose Theodore will finally get back in net for the Caps. He hasn’t played since Nov. 14. Caps coach Bruce Boudreau called defenseman Shaone Morrisonn (head injury) questionable again. Tyler Sloan has returned from a funeral back home in Alberta, but his status is also up in the air.
