Friday Roundup/Gamenight: Caps @ 'Canes

[SeSo Open Thread]

It's like deja vu all over again as the Caps head to Raleigh for the front end of a home-and-home with the Whalers. You'll recall that the Caps took it to the 'Canes just last Thursday down at RBC Center (side note: does anyone else find it odd that the Royal Bank of Canada Center is in North Carolina and Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Arena is in Buffalo?), and here are the highlights to prove it:
After that big win, the Caps took there new-found momentum, promptly laid an egg against the Panthers, then took some well-needed (if not deserved) R&R during the All-Star Break. Which Caps team shows up in Raleigh Friday night is anyone's guess, but you can bet that they won't get the same effort out of their hosts that they did last week, as 'Canes coach Peter Laviolette blew a gasket after his team's "brutal" effort (his word, not mine) against the boys from D.C. Making an uphill battle even steeper, the Caps will be without team minutes leader Brian Pothier and banger Matt Bradley for who knows how long.

A few numbers to chew on:

• The Caps are 1-4 in their last 5 vs. Eastern Conference, 1-4 in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record, 1-4 in their last 5 games following a loss of 3 or more goals and 1-4 in their last 5 overall.
• The 'Canes are 4-1 in their last 5 vs. a team with a losing record and 12-4 in their last 16 vs. Southeast.

If I was forced to make a prediction, I'd say expect a bunch of goals from two re-charged and differently-motivated teams. I've also come to expect the unexpected. What the hell - Caps 5, 'Canes 4.

We'll have more throughout the day over at SeSo, so be sure to stop on by.

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:

• OFB has compiled their list of the Caps' Top 20 Prospects - a must read for any Caps fan.
• Speaking of prospects, HF recapped the Swedes and the Finns from the WJC and says of one of the Caps' youngsters (and not who you think) that "the future is a bright one for him, as he can easily be seen transferring his key scoring abilities onto NHL level."
• As DCSportsChick points out, AO's peers think highly of him.
• Good to see the Thrashers entering the 21st Century. A couple down, many more to go.
• Jarret Stoll is doing alright for himself, no?