NHL Preview Roundup: Washington Capitals vs. Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Dallas Stars
Washington at Carolina (7:00 p.m. ET)
After outclassing the Montreal Canadiens (3-0), the Washington Capitals are set to visit Carolina to play the lowly Hurricanes on Friday, January 20, 2012 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.
The Hurricanes have played 48 games and are ranked at the bottom of the National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference with 40 points.
They have only won three out of their last nine games and are on a two-game losing streak.
Hurricanes were defeated in a shootout in their last game against Pittsburgh Penguins.
They took a lead early in the first period, but lost control towards the end of the period.
No team could score in the second, third or the extra period (OT), as the game was decided in the shootout.
Jamie McBain has urged his teammates not to worry about the failure and continue to put their best efforts hoping for a victory.
"It's a tough pill to swallow", McBain said. "You know, once again we're feeling good about our game and we've just got to keep fighting and eventually the results will turn".
On the other hand, Washington Capitals are in much better form than the Hurricanes.
Out of their last 11 games, the Capitals have won eight games. At present, they are leading the NHL Southeast Division and are placed third in the Eastern Conference with 52 points after 45 games.
Michal Neuvirth had his second shutout of the season when the Capitals defeated the Canadiens and the team is expecting their goalie to build on the performance in their next game.
Tampa Bay at Dallas (8:30 p.m. ET)
Tampa Bay Lightning managed to snap their seven-game losing streak after defeating Boston Bruins (5-3), they have now got a chance to develop a winning momentum as they prepare to face the Dallas Stars on Friday, January, 20, 2012, at the American Airlines
Center in Dallas, Texas, United States.
The Lightning are ranked 14th in the National Hockey League (NHL) Eastern Conference with 40 points after playing 45 games.
They have only won a single game this month and now have an opportunity to improve their statistics.
They can do it because they are now facing the Dallas Stars, who are on a three-game losing streak.
Stars are ranked 10th in the NHL Western Conference with 50 points after playing 45 games.
They lost their last game against Detroit Red Wings in a shootout after giving away a lead in the second period of the game.
The Stars are tormented by the absence of their key players, but their captain, Brenden Morrow, has asserted that the team is going to play better.
"We've just got to keep sticking with it -- kind of a depleted line-up with our two big centre-men out, but this is the way we're going to have to play”, Morrow said. "Just scratch and claw for 60 minutes and hope for breaks".
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