Tough game tonight

 The last game of year 2008 is going to be a tough one. Alzner and Brashear are not expected to play tonight. The individual race between Vanek and Ovechkin, who both scored 25 goals and share the second place in NHL, is going to have a direct affect on which team will win tonight.

Caps need to contain Vanek and Ovechkin needs to solve Ryan Miller.

Corey Masisak, TWT:

The Caps are 1-7 in their last eight trips to this building, a fact not lost on Boudreau.

"We have to exercise our demons in this building," Boudreau said. "We have lost some big games in this building. We have to see if we can't overcome them. It is an important thing. Sometimes the mentality going into a building is, 'We can't possibly win here.' To become a champion, you have to overcome those things."

In other news Robert Picarello, FoxSports, writes:

Week 11 Power Rankings

The Washington Capitals were able to move four steps closer to the top of the power rankings mountain this week thanks mainly to the outstanding play of their sniper Alex Ovechkin. The left wing posted six points in Washington's three Week 12 wins.

Ovechkin was at his best on Dec. 23 in a 5-4 overtime win over the New York Rangers when his two goals and one assist helped lead the Caps all the way back from a 4-0 deficit. He followed up that dramatic performance at Madison Square Garden with three more goals in Washington's next two games – two of which were game-winners. Heading into Week 13, Ovechkin had recorded 44 points in his past 28 games off 23 goals and 21 assists, including a league-leading 12 goals in 13 December games.

Rank  Team     Last Wk  Rise   High/Low
5     Capitals    9     (+4)    5/19 

By winning three in a row last week, the Capitals were able to climb into the top five in the power rankings. Nicklas Backstrom netted six assists in Washington's three Week 12 victories.

Jeff Carter and Flyers are playing Canucks tonight at 10:00PM.


Go Caps! Go go, Ovechkin!