Caps (18-12-4. 40 points) at Senators (15-12-4, 34 points)
What » Game #35
Where » Scotiabank Place
When » 7:30 p.m.
TV » CSN HD
Radio » WFED-1500 AM
Biggest game of the season for the Caps tonight on the road at Ottawa. They are 0-6-2 over the last eight games and have slipped out of first place in the Eastern Conference and all the way to No. 7 in the Eastern Conference. Washington last lost nine games in a row in February and March of the 2006-07 season. Just for their own mental health the Caps need to get a win – any win – and take that momentum into Tuesday’s home game against the New Jersey Devils, a team that is in the midst of a disastrous season.
Washington brought a good effort in three of its last four games – against Colorado, Anaheim and Boston. But as hard as they’ve worked the goals just aren’t coming with 11 in the last eight games. They need to earn some power-play time tonight after getting just one chance against the Bruins on Saturday.
The third period against Boston was as dominant as the Caps have played since last season with 26 shots on goal, one shy of the franchise record for a single period. On the second night of a back-to-back its doubtful they’ll have the energy to do that again for 60 minutes. But it’s nice to know that effort is still there of they need it. The Senators haven’t exactly been a powerhouse this season so – combined with the Devils game – this is a legitimate chance to stop the bleeding before seeing the Penguins on Thursday at Verizon Center. The consequences could be dire if the streak goes on too much longer and this team can’t string together a handful of wins.
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