A "Look Ahead" at Tonight's Matchup Between The Capitals & The Thrashers

The big story about tonight's match up between the Southeast Division First Place (Washington Capitals) and last place (Atlanta Thrashers) will be injuries and who the Capitals end up dressing and playing. A couple of sidelines in order of impact to the potential outcome will be four sidelines. 1) The goaltending "matchup" between the netminder at both end of the ice - neither team has a netminder right now who has been anywhere near a "Berlin Wall" over the past several games. 2) The "Ovechkin vs. Kovalchuk" scoring duel - not near the drama of the growing epic Washington sharpshooters vs. Penguin sharpshooter rivalries but it is known that both are big game players who "get up" when they play opposing stars, especially of Russian descent. 3) The motivation the Caps must inherently feel to return the favor of the opening night drubbing Atlanta gave the Caps at Philips Center, the last time these two met. 4) Lastly, the fact that just shy of the first anniversary of Bruce Boudreau taking the reigns as Caps' coach, they are seeking to end longest losing streak at three consecutive games, and to keep their home ice streak of no losses in regulation alive.

Any more detailed look at or analysis of the match up is currently muddied and complicated by the Caps injury situation and lack of clear understanding on who will really suit up. Tune in to see just how many Hershey Bears end up making the drive from Hershey today or have already made it that we don't know of right now. I'll be "Rockin' the Red" while driving to Myrtle Beach to spend the holidays with relatives and for the first time this season neither my partner Tom or I are using our seats - compared to last season that's quite a great statement for me to make 1/4 of the way through the season. However, I'm sure Tom gave them to a worthy, nice person so here's to hoping they are Caps Fans and they are happy when the third period buzzer sounds.

LETS GO CAPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!