Caps (18-9-3, 39 points) vs. Avalanche (14-10-4, 32 points)
What » Game #31
Where » Verizon Center
When » 7 p.m.
TV » CSN HD
Radio » WFED-1500 AM
Every team goes through its bad times during the long NHL regular season. But I’d recommend the Caps go ahead and win the game tonight against the Colorado Avalanche at home. It’s a Western Conference team that just played last night in Atlanta – a 4-2 win – and got into the District after midnight. No better time than now to snap a four-game losing streak lest it morph into something bigger.
“You’re disappointed and depressed and all those adjectives you want to use,” Caps coach Bruce Boudreau said of his team’s current mental state. “But you’ve just got to fight through it. If sports was easy everybody would be playing it instead of reporting on it.”
Can you tell this morning’s media scrum got a little bit chippy? Take it easy, Gabby. Anyway, looks like Michal Neuvirth is back in net as the goalie rotation continues for Boudreau. Semyon Varlamov started on Thursday night against Florida. Will this every-other-game split continue for a while?
“It’s not ‘every other’ [game]. It’s ‘if they win they’re in’,” Boudreau said. “It’s just we haven’t won so I haven’t been able to do it. If Michal wins today there’s a good chance he’ll play tomorrow.”
With the flu ripping through the team Mike Green was listed as doubtful. Brian Fahey, recalled from AHL Hershey yesterday, is in and should be paired with John Erskine. The other sick players – Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Semin, John Carlson, Boyd Gordon and Brooks Laich – should be ready to go, according to Boudreau, though obviously at less than full strength.
The scratches? Rookie center Marcus Johansson is one of them. That’s the first time this season the 20-year will sit out a game that he’s been healthy to play. Look for Boyd Gordon on the third line at center and David Steckel on the fourth. D.J. King is expected to be the other scratch. Injured defensemen Jeff Schultz (broken finger) and Tyler Sloan (groin) skated on their own after practice. Sloan can come off injured reserve for tomorrow’s game against the Rangers in New York
Follow me on Twitter @bmcnally14
