To say tonight's game is the biggest game of the year for the Caps might be a bit of a stretch. Win or lose the Caps will still be in a position to earn a playoff spot. However, a win tonight will go a long away in building some much needed confidence for the young team. The recent three game road trip within the Division provided a great opportunity for the Caps to separate themselves from the rest of the Division. Unfortunately, the Caps were unable to take advantage of the opportunity and only salvaged three points out of the trip with the win over Tampa Bay. The Caps returned home, blew a two goal lead to the Islanders and fell in a shootout.
Despite the slightly disappointing road trip and loss to the Islanders, the Caps are only four points behind Carolina with three games in hand heading into tonight's contest in Raleigh. You have to like the Caps chances tonight. The Hurricanes have played well since losing Rod Brind'Amour and beat Atlanta 5-3 in their last game at home. Alex Ovechkin has been held off the score sheet for three games in a row for the first time this season. It's been reported that he has been suffering from the flu. Hopefully he's feeling better. He seems to be due for a big game. The Caps have also only lost two games in a row once during Bruce Boudreau's tenure as coach. The biggest factor tonight will most likely be goal tending. If there ever was a need for a goalie to steal a game for a team, tonight is the night that Olaf Kolzig must stand tall in the net. No more goals can be scored from behind the goal line no matter how fluky the play.
It is also critically important that the Caps avoid a three point game tonight. They need to outright win the game in regulation and pull within four points with three games in hand. The Caps are 1-3 in their last four games and have slipped further down the standings in the Eastern Conference. They can not afford to continue playing .500 hockey or less and expect to stay in the playoff race. A win tonight will be huge for this team.
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