Washington begins road trip in Atlanta
It is eight games into the season and the Capitals still have not played a Southeast Division opponent.
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That all changes on Thursday night when Washington begins its first multi-game road trip against the Atlanta Thrashers. Their travels will be brief with a contest against the New York Islanders set for Saturday. Still, there are benefits to playing away from Verizon Center.
» Caps F Alexander Semin (six goals) is “touch and go” for Thursday’s game with an illness, according to coach Bruce Boudreau. » F Boyd Gordon (sore back) will not play Thursday, but is on the trip to Atlanta and New York. John Erskine (bruised hand) also traveled with the team.» Washington will recall two players from AHL Hershey for Thursday’s game.
“It’s always good to get out on the road and shock the team a little bit,” said Caps defenseman Mike Green. “Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations makes you play differently. As long as we play as a team on the road we’re fine.”
Washington has had its issues early on holding leads and taking dumb penalties. Then again, how bad can things be with a 4-2-2 record and 10 points? The Caps have come through a tough portion of the schedule in first place in the Southeast.
Meanwhile, the surprising Thrashers (4-1-1, nine points) are right behind them in second place. Star forward Ilya Kovalchuk is off to a fine start with seven goals in six games. That ties him for second in the NHL — trailing only countryman Alex Ovechkin (nine goals), of course.
Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec (3-1-1, .929 save percentage) also is playing well as he tries to steal the job from teammate Kari Lehtonen. The 22-year-old is 1-2 lifetime against the Caps. He beat them 2-1 in overtime in 2007, but was ripped for nine goals in two games against them last year.
