Sorry for the lack of updates, and lack of detail in the updates I am providing. I am out of town for work, and have been working way too much!

Here is what I have for tonight.

Holtby will be between the pipes tonight as the Caps face off against the Panthers.

John Erskin is back in tonight having server the duration of his 3 game suspension.

Marcus Johansson and Roman Hamrlik are scratches.

Tomi Poti will be a game time decision after suffering an upper body injury this week against the Penguins.

Jason Chimera has been moved up to the second line with Backstrom and Brouwer.

Mathieu Perreault is back in the lineup tonight! I can't find where I read it last night, but I thought I saw that MP85 would be playing the third line with Backstrom.

Offensive lines:
Wolski-Ribeiro-Ovechkin
Chimera-Backstrom-Brouwer
Fehr-Perreault-Ward
Hendricks-Beagle-Crabb

MP85 Quoted
From Capitals insider:

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ESPN 10 Team H2H
F: Kessel, Backstrom, E. Staal, Marleau, Hossa, Kesler, Vrbata, Bozak, Koivu, Wilson, Tlusty, Fisher
D: Chara, Shattenkirk, Souray, Beauchemin, Liles, Carlson, Vlassic, Greene
G: Brodeur, Fasth, Ward IR: Ray Whitney

Yahoo 10 team H2H
F: Marleau, Tlusty, Vanek, Pominville, McDonald, Clarkson, Huberdeau, Koivu
D: Boyle, Greene, Chara, Pietrangelo, Hedman, L Schenn
G: Brodeur, Fasth

The Capitals are in Sunrise Florida today to face the Florida Panthers for the second time in three days. The Capitals defeated the Panthers 5-0 in a much needed win at home on Saturday night. The Panthers who are currently two places (28th) ahead of the Caps (30th), may not be the toughest adversary for the Capitals, as they are having struggles of their own, but with a current record (including Saturdays win) of 3-8-1, a win is a win.

Saturdays game was a great turn around for the team as a whole, especially Mathieu Perreault and Braden Holtby. Both players got off to very rocky starts this season. Holtby allowed ten goals in his first two games of the season and eighteen goals in the five games he player prior to Saturday nights contest. On Saturday night, Holtby recorded his first shutout of the season, stopping 27 shots on goal. Holtby also earned an assist (2nd in his NHL Career) when he made a beautiful pass to Troy Brouwer who received the puck at the blue line and was able to put the puck into the back of the net.

Mathieu Perreault, who had been a healthy scratch in six of the Capitals eleven games prior to Saturday night, and has seen minimal ice time (7:59 average over five games) when does make the lineup, had a two point night and was on the ice for 12:40 including 51 seconds of power play time. Perreault ended the night with one goal, one assist, and a 2 +/- rating.

Along with Perreault, Troy Brower and Joel Ward lead the Caps in points, all posting two a points a piece.

Goals were scored by Brouwer who scored the first two tallies in the game, followed by single goals from Ward, Ovechkin, and Perreault.

While many of the Capitals offensive line scored at least a point on Saturday, Crabb, Wolksi, Backtrom, Hendricks, and Beagle remained off pointless. These players make up the entire fourth line and two thirds of the second line. Every player on the fist line and third line scored at least a point.


Tonight the Caps will look to keep the momentum going but this time on the Panthers ice. The Capitals solid play on Saturday night have resulted in Adam Oates keeping the same lines, and same goalie for tonight's game.

Brooks Laich did travel with the team to Sunrise, but did not participate in the morning skate. Although he is closer to returning to the ice after missing one quarter of the season, his timeline for returning is still unclear.

Marcus Johansson did not travel with the team for this trip, and was absent from practice on Monday morning. The official word from the Caps is that MJ90 has an upper-body injury despite the fact that he participated in a practice on Saturday with the other scratched players.

Tom Poti and Roman Hamrlik are both scratches tonight.

Offensive Lines:
Chimera-Ribeiro-Ovechkin
Wolski-Backstrom-Brouwer
Fehr-Perreault-Ward
Hendricks-Beagle-Crabb

Defensive Lines:
Alzner-Green
Erskine-Carlson
Schultz-Kundratek

Goal:
Holbty

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ESPN 10 Team H2H
F: Kessel, Backstrom, E. Staal, Marleau, Hossa, Kesler, Vrbata, Bozak, Koivu, Wilson, Tlusty, Fisher
D: Chara, Shattenkirk, Souray, Beauchemin, Liles, Carlson, Vlassic, Greene
G: Brodeur, Fasth, Ward IR: Ray Whitney

Yahoo 10 team H2H
F: Marleau, Tlusty, Vanek, Pominville, McDonald, Clarkson, Huberdeau, Koivu
D: Boyle, Greene, Chara, Pietrangelo, Hedman, L Schenn
G: Brodeur, Fasth

K seriously, wtf is going on with Backstrom and Green.

I keep seeing Washington score and it's random bums like Hendricks or Kundratek or Ersikine.

Last eight goals those two guys have a big donut

Backstrom sighting! Woooooo!

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10 Team Yahoo Roto
Keep 6F, 3D, 1G (to max 4 years)
4C,4LW,4RW,6D,2G,5BN,2IR Roto-play 90games/position
Player: G, A, +/-, PIM, PPP, SHP, GWG, SOG, FW
Goalie: W, GAA, SV, SV%, SHO

C: 3-Backstrom, 1-Getzlaf, Kesler, Ribiero, Stepan
LW: 2-Zetterberg(c), 1-Hall, 2-Benn(c), Pacioretty,
RW: 1-P.Kane(c), Wheeler, Burrows, Brunner, Silfverberg
D: 2-Edler, 1-Yandle, 1-Subban, Carlson, Zidlicky, J.Faulk, Souray
G: 2-Quick, Brodeur, Dubnyk, Emery
IR: Malone

#- denotes number of years I have kept a player.

Tonight the Capitals will streak into Tampa coming off of two consecutive wins in their home and home series against the Florida Panthers. The streak is in the form of five players who have all earned points in at least the last two games. Eric Fehr has 3 points (1G,2A) in the last two games, Troy Brouwer has 3 points (3G) in the last two games, Joel Ward has 4 points (1G,3A) in the last two games, Alex Ovechkin has 7 points (3G,4A) in the last five games, and Mike Ribeiro has 9 points (4G,5A) in the last five games.

The Capitals appear to be getting back to their run and gun style of play. The Capitals were able to come from behind on Tuesday and take the victory in overtime. Troy Brouwer lead the Caps in points scoring the game winning goal along with two assists. Oveckin (1G,1A), Backstrom (2A), Fehr (1G,1A), and Ward (2A) all had multiple points.

Karl Alzner recorded his first goal since October of last 2011. Last season the Capitals were 14-3-0 when Alzner scored a point.

Although getting off to a bad start this season, the Capitals have improved drastically on the power play. The Capitals power play was ranked eighteenth in the league on February 1st, and are now currently tied for fourth in the league with a power play efficiency of twenty-five percent. The Capitals are 3-1-0 this season when scoring on a power play and preventing the opposition from scoring while on the penalty kill.

Tonight's game could produce several milestones for the Capitals players. John Carlson will be playing his 200th NHL game this evening, making him the 11th player from the 2008 draft to play in 200 or more games. Eric Fehr needs one point to reach 100 career points. An assist for Mike Ribeiro tonight would give him 400 career assists in NHL. He would be on of 34th active player to record 400 assists.

Despite Jason Chimera seeing just under six minutes of ice time on Tuesday due to lack of performance, Adam Oates is expected to keep him on the top line with Ribeiro and Ovechkin. Chimera's six assists this season ranks him third for the Capitals, behind Ribeiro (12), and Backstrom (9).

Braden Holtby will be in the net tonight for the Caps. Holtby recorded his first shutout on Saturday against the Panthers, then allowed five goals in the rematch on Tuesday.

Brooks Laich has been cleared for contact in practice, but his timeline for return is still unknown.

Marcus Johansson did not travel with the team to Florida, and there have not been any updates concerning his injured status.


Expected starting lines:
Chimera-Ribeiro-Ovechkin
Wolski-Backstrom-Brouwer
Fehr-Perreault-Ward
Hendricks-Beagle-Crabb

Alzner-Green
Erskine-Carlson
Schultz-Kundratek

Holtby

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ESPN 10 Team H2H
F: Kessel, Backstrom, E. Staal, Marleau, Hossa, Kesler, Vrbata, Bozak, Koivu, Wilson, Tlusty, Fisher
D: Chara, Shattenkirk, Souray, Beauchemin, Liles, Carlson, Vlassic, Greene
G: Brodeur, Fasth, Ward IR: Ray Whitney

Yahoo 10 team H2H
F: Marleau, Tlusty, Vanek, Pominville, McDonald, Clarkson, Huberdeau, Koivu
D: Boyle, Greene, Chara, Pietrangelo, Hedman, L Schenn
G: Brodeur, Fasth

Braden Holtby will be the starting goalie tonight. He is 0-1 against the Devils in his career, with a 5.06 GAA and .783 SV%. On Sunday evening against the Rangers, Holtby stopped 38 of 40 shots, his second highest number of shots blocked in his career.

John Carlson has scored eight points in nine games played against the Devils as well as 14 penalty minutes. Carlson has more penalty minutes against the Devils than any other team in the league.

The Capitals power play has improved over the beginning of the season. The Capitals have scored a power play goal in six of their last seven games. In that time span their power play success rate is 42.1%

Beware of Fehr! Eric Fehr is on a four game point streak with three goals and three assists.

Mike Green will be a game time decision for tonight's game against New Jersey.

Marcus Johansson skated the last two days but will not play tonight. His injury was apparently sustained prior to the end of the lockout while playing in Sweden.

Brooks Laich did not skate again today, but has been doing strength and conditioning workouts. His timeline for return is still unknown.


Fantasy Update - The best of the last 15 days:

Mike Ribeiro - 7 points in 5 games, 2G, 5A, 1 PPG, 2 PPA, 35 FOW
Eric Fehr - 6 points in 5 games, 3G, 3A, +/- 5
Alex Ovechkin - 5 points in 5 games, 3G, 3A, 2 PPG, 26 SOG
Joel Ward - 5 points in 5 games, 1G, 4A, +/- 4
Mathieu Perreault - 5 points in 4 games, 1G, 4A, +/- 4, 15 FOW
Troy Brouwer - 4 points, 4 G, 2 PPG, 13 HITS
Nicklas Backstrom - 3 points in 5 games, 3A, 2 PPA, 59 FOW
John Carlson - 3 points in 5 games, 1G, 2A, +/- 3, 10 BLK, 1 FOW???


Tonight expected starting lines:

Forwards
Wolski-Backstrom-Brouwer
Chimera-Ribeiro-Ovechkin
Fehr-Perreault-Ward
Hendricks-Beagle-Crabb

Defense
Alzner-Kundratek
Erskine-Carlson
Schultz-Poti

Goal
Holtbeast

__________________
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ESPN 10 Team H2H
F: Kessel, Backstrom, E. Staal, Marleau, Hossa, Kesler, Vrbata, Bozak, Koivu, Wilson, Tlusty, Fisher
D: Chara, Shattenkirk, Souray, Beauchemin, Liles, Carlson, Vlassic, Greene
G: Brodeur, Fasth, Ward IR: Ray Whitney

Yahoo 10 team H2H
F: Marleau, Tlusty, Vanek, Pominville, McDonald, Clarkson, Huberdeau, Koivu
D: Boyle, Greene, Chara, Pietrangelo, Hedman, L Schenn
G: Brodeur, Fasth

How to blow a lead 101


Score starting the 3rd period: 2-1 Washington

3rd Period Penalties:

1:16 Washington Nicklas Backstrom - 2 minutes for boarding
1:16 New Jersey Adam Larsson - 2 minutes for cross checking
2:55 Washington Matt Hendricks - 2 minutes for holding
3:09 Washington Tomas Kundratek - 2 minutes for delaying game-puck over glass
6:52 Washington Alex Ovechkin - 2 minutes for tripping
9:59 Washington John Erskine - 2 minutes for hooking
10:51 Washington Tom Poti - 2 minutes for interference

NJ 5 on 3 - 1 of 2

Shots on goal (third period)
NJ - 15
WAS - 3


Here is an article Neil Greenberg wrote for the Washington Post that digs into the penalty statistics that are plaguing the Caps this season.

The Capitals have to play a more disciplined if they expect to have the slightest chance at not blowing leads and reaching the end of sixty minutes victoriously.

__________________
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ESPN 10 Team H2H
F: Kessel, Backstrom, E. Staal, Marleau, Hossa, Kesler, Vrbata, Bozak, Koivu, Wilson, Tlusty, Fisher
D: Chara, Shattenkirk, Souray, Beauchemin, Liles, Carlson, Vlassic, Greene
G: Brodeur, Fasth, Ward IR: Ray Whitney

Yahoo 10 team H2H
F: Marleau, Tlusty, Vanek, Pominville, McDonald, Clarkson, Huberdeau, Koivu
D: Boyle, Greene, Chara, Pietrangelo, Hedman, L Schenn
G: Brodeur, Fasth

How does Holtby look? I know he played really bad to start the season but seems to have turned it around. Worth a flyer over Bryzgalov or Backstrom in a one year?

__________________
8 Team Yahoo Weekly H2H (1yr)
3C, 3LW, 3RW, 6D, 1Util, 2G, 4BN, 3IR
G, A, +/-, PPG, PPA, SHG, SHA, GWG, SOG, FW, HIT, BLK
W, L, GA, GAA, SV, SA, SV%, SHO

C: Tavares, Eric Staal, Getzlaf, Ribeiro
LW: Lupul (LW,RW), Hartnell, Elias (C,LW), Cammalleri (C,LW), Ott (C,LW)
RW: Malkin (C,RW), Backes (C,RW), Seguin (C,RW), Callahan
D: Pietrangelo, Ekman-Larsson, Subban, Bouwmeester, Streit, Burns (D,RW), Wisniewski
G: Rask, Backstrom, Bobrovsky
IR: Spezza (C), Oshie (C,RW)

I heard Johansson is almost ready to return. Do you think Wolski and his 4pts in 19games comes out of the lineup?

__________________
16 tm pts only sal cap full keeper
F:Malkin, Spezza, Parise, Kessel, Mueller, Turris, Silfverberg, Boyes, Perreault, Shore, Backlund, Elias, Callahan, Burmistrov
D:MDZ, Carlson, Schultz, Josi
G:Fleury, Dubnyk
Farm: Jarnkrok, Dumba, Sproul
IR:
16 tm H2H keeper w/ contracts
G A +/- PIM STP GWG W SO GAA SV%
C: Benn[3], Spezza[2], Ribeiro[1], Brassard[1], Shaw, Forsberg
LW: Ryan(LW)[4], Marleau[1], Schwartz,
RW: Sharp(C)[1], Bennett, Coyle(C)
D: Goligosk[4], Letang[3], Edler[2], Hamilton, Rielly
G:Rask[2], Bobrovsky[1], Fasth
IR:

from twitter:

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13 Team (30 player roster), pts only keeper (Goalies W=2,SO=3) Keep 12F 4D 1G + any Fwd prospects with <100 NHL GP & D/G prospects with <150 NHL GP

F- P.Kane, Kopitar, Giroux, Duchene, Van Riemsdyk, Voracek, Dupuis, Fleischmann, Erat, Cammalleri, Anisimov, C.Smith
D- Edler, Ekman-Larsson, Shattenkirk, Carle
G- Fleury
Prospects- M.Granlund, Baertschi, Nyquist, Grigorenko, Conacher, Niederreiter, D.Shore, Kuznetsov, Hertl, B.Smith, Orlov, Rundblad, A.Larsson