The Caps are getting set for Game #13 of the season on Friday night, where they will see the Boston Bruins for the third time already in 2010-11. Washington, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles may lead the NHL in points (16), but the Bruins (7-2-0, 14 points) have played fewer games and are arguably playing better than any team in the league. And, of course, they’ve already beaten the Caps twice.
Will have a story in tomorrow’s print edition on Bruins goalie Tim Thomas, the 2008-09 Vezina Trophy winner who struggled with injuries last season. But he is back in form now with a 7-0 record and an absurd 0.72 goals-against average. The season series finishes with a game in Boston on Dec. 18. After that these teams won’t see each other again unless they meet in the postseason – a distinct possibility given the talent on each side.
“Play them three times like this in a short period of time and you win the first two games you better be ready for a real challenge,” Thomas said about seeing the Caps again. “They’re going to be hungry and they’re going to be looking to redeem themselves.”
Don’t expect to see defenseman Tom Poti tomorrow night. He’s still battling a lower-body injury and didn’t skate at practice on Thursday. Bruce Boudreau is hoping for next week and admitted the injury has cost Poti more time than anyone thought initially. Goalie Semyon Varlamov (groin) skated for the second day in a row, but is still a ways off. Boudreau said he thought Michal Neuvirth looked tired at times during the win over Toronto on Wednesday night. That means we will see rookie back-up Braden Holtby “sooner than later,” according to Boudreau. He wouldn’t say when exactly. Sunday’s game against Philadelphia makes sense since that would be three games in five days for Neuvirth. But Boudreau may not want to subject Holtby to the Flyers in his NHL debut. Then again – is playing at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday any easier? The kid could get hit by falling chunks of asbestos.
Rookie forward Marcus Johansson will likely be ready to go as soon as Friday. Doesn’t necessarily mean Boudreau will use him right away, though. Johansson has been fighting a hip injury. Defenseman Brian Fahey was still here with Poti and defenseman Tyler Sloan (lower-body injury) ailing. Sloan did take part in Thursday’s optional practice, however, and the Caps sent Fahey back to AHL Hershey afterwards.
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