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Just the Facts:
The Time: 7:30 EST
The Place: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
The Place to Watch: NBCSN, TVAS, Sportsnet 360
The Place to Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub
The Opposing SBNation Blog: Japers Rink
Players to Watch out For:
- Alex Ovechkin. ‘Nuff said.
- Braden Holtby has demolished Boston’s hopes and dreams every time he plays them, so expect him to be between the pipes.
- Niklas Backstrom is getting dangerously close to almost a point per game
Quick Preview:
Boston hasn’t lost since two weeks ago against New York, but it really doesn’t matter how you slice it: The B’s don’t play the Capitals very well. It doesn’t matter who they throw out there in net and on the ice, they tend to either get caught up in the physicality, and if they’re caught up in the physicality of Washington, they get sloppy and let in multiple goals. They’re gonna have to be better than their best selves in order to solidify 2nd in the Atlantic.
Washington meanwhile...has been Washington. Distinctly mortal, but still the juggernaut people expect them to be in the regular season.
Though recently? things have looked bad. They haven’t won since the 19th, and have recently been going through some serious scoring woes, getting shutout yesterday by New York and getting blanked by Vegas before Christmas Eve. They will be motivated, needless to say.
As such, it ought to be a good one.