2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Series – Washington Capitals against the New Jersey Devils (Preview)
The New Jersey Devils will host the Washington Capitals in the second game of Monday. Both teams will be facing each other for the second time in the season after which they will have 2 more encounters against each other. The previous meeting between the
two teams saw the Washington Capitals absolutely thrash the New Jersey Devils in Washington as they won 7-2 on the 9th of October.
The New Jersey Devils are going through a bad phase currently as they have lost the last three games in a row and could manage only 3 goals during the games. They are hoping to come up with a good performance this time but the offence is the main concern
for them.
The defence has been relatively better as only 9 goals have been scored against them in the last 3 games. However, the chances of a good performance by the Devils is hurt by the fact that their star goal keeper Martin Bordeur is out injured after suffering
from an elbow injury.
The New Jersey Devils have played 20 games so far in the season and have won 5 games with the added 2 in overtime. But the big disappointment comes when you look at their games lost that mount to a total of 13 games. Despite the slump that the Devils are
facing their Coach is hopeful for a good match this Monday.
"We have to still battle through it," MacLean told reporters after Saturday's game. "I'm certainly not quitting or giving up. I'm going to keep battling through this and we have to fight our way out of it."
The Washington Capitals on the other hand are stronger on paper given their last match and the current form. The Capitals currently have played 21 games out of which they won 14 games and 2 more games in overtime while losing only 5 games.
However, the Capitals are also going through a bad time in the season as they have allowed 9 goals scored against them in past couple of games. The worrying thing about Capitals performance is the fact that recently when they concede a goal, the opposing
team scores another goal within a matter of seconds.
The Capitals will be boosted by their centre Nicklas Backstorm who has bagged 3 goals in last couple of matches and has a total of 7 goals in as many games he has played.
Last but not the least, the Capitals forward Brook Laich is confident of the win ahead of the game with the diverse and sharp skills he adds to the Capitals side.
After the Capitals lost the game against the Philadelphia Flyers taking the positive side he said, "This was a hockey game we wanted to win," Laich said "But that said, there were a lot of positives in the way we played. It's the way we have to play, to
respond the rest of the season and in the playoffs. You're seeing our team grow after (Friday) night's embarrassment (in Atlanta) and we played a good hockey game, just didn't get the result."
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