Pre-Cap: Capitals vs. Ducks

Fire up your Nintendo Entertainment System television, it's time for the Capitals to go duck hunting.

(Insert Dick Cheney hunting joke here) Here's your pre-Cap!

Washington Capitals (10-4-3, last game SO loss to New Jersey)
vs.
Anaheim Ducks (10-7-2, last game 2-0 win over Los Angeles)

The story so far...
It was a whirlwind week for the Capitals, and after a dramatic last-second goal by Ovechkin some rest was due. Now the Caps are on the road out West. Will the team dominate like it did last weekend, or will they still be jet-lagged?

Key Players
WSH: Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom
ANA: Ryan Getzlaf, Teemu Selanne

All banged up
Semin? Doubtful. Fedorov? Game-time decision. Morrisonn? Game-time decision. Pothier? God knows when.

Do players spend their free time playing video game hockey?
Seems like Teemu Selanne does...



And your ex-Cap for the night
None other than Brian Sutherby. Sutherby was traded last season for a Ducks second round draft pick in 2009. The Capitals then turned that draft pick into Cristobal Huet. Sutherby, a 1st round, 26th overall pick, never quite panned out for the Capitals. He is currently sixth on the Ducks in scoring with 3G and 3A.

If at first you don't succeed...give Finnish kids candy.
Candy from a stranger is bad, but when it's from Teemu Selanne, well I guess THAT's okay. Finnish translation, "This is my thing, this is what I'm good at."



The question is, who's in net?
At the moment, the decision of who will start in goal is unanswered. Johnson and Theodore have been playing well recently, each one deserving of the start. Johnson is coming off a minor injury and would like to get back to where he was last week. Theodore is making highlight saves and, despite a 5-goal game, Saturday, looks solid.

To give you some perspective, here's the career totals for both against the Ducks.
Johnson: 6-3, 2.20 GAA, .906%
Theodore: 5-4, 2.72 GAA, .917%

Interesting facts...
The Ducks have not lost this season when leading after two periods. They have not won when trailing after one period. The highest +/- on the Ducks is a 7. Alex Semin leads the Capitals in five stats (G, A, P, +/-, OTG)

Really hate the Ducks? Enjoy.
Duck Hunt for the PC

LET'S GO CAPS!