Caps (29-16-10, 68 points) vs. Kings (29-22-3, 61 points)
What » Game #56
Where » Verizon Center
When » 12:30 p.m.
TV » CSN HD
Radio » WFED-1500 AM
Wave goodbye to the Caps. They won’t be back in town until Feb. 25 and have just 10 more home games after this afternoon tilt with Los Angeles at Verizon Center. This would be a huge two points to bank before immediately heading to Phoenix after the game. No one wants to make that long flight after a loss
Defenseman Mike Green “passed all his tests” on Friday, according to Washington coach Bruce Boudreau. He also said no one from the training staff has informed him that Green isn’t playing today. Then again, he wouldn’t confirm Green is in the lineup either. Might be some gamesmanship there.
No morning skate, obviously, with the early start time, but I’d assume Semyon Varlamov gets his first start in goal since last Friday. He was ill over the weekend and Michal Neuvirth got the chance to start two games.
Alex Semin was on the top line with Nicklas Backstrom and Alex Ovechkin at practice yesterday. That move has often jumpstarted the trio over the last three years. They have a tendency to get far too cute when together, too, so it might not last long. As expected, Semin looked rusty on Tuesday in his first game back from injury. But I don’t care how weak the Caps’ offense has been the last two months that unit will get Los Angeles’ attention right off the drop.
“We’ve done it before,” Backstrom said. “If we all three work together like we should we’ll be successful.”
This is just the sixth time since the start of the 2005-06 season that Washington and Los Angeles have played and only the third time at Verizon Center. The Kings have won three in a row in this series, including a 4-3 overtime win on Feb. 8, 2007.
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