Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Tuesday Roundup/Gamenight: Bruins @ Caps

[NHL.com Preview - WashingtonCaps.com Preview - Official Gameday Thread]

I should have known from the new Dunkin' Donuts inside the Verizon Center that it could mean only one thing: the Boston Bruins are coming. And now they're here, carrying a bloated payroll and disappointing record into Tuesday night's tilt with the Caps.

Want to feel better about the home team? Here you go - the Caps score more than a quarter of a goal more per game than the Bruins, give up more than a quarter of a goal less per game than the B's and have a payroll that's about 32% less than the Bruins' (I wonder if Boston feels they're getting what they're paying for). But wait - there's less! The Bruins win at Carolina on Saturday broke a six-game losing streak in which they were outscored 22-4, including 6-1 and 7-1 losses. Ouch.

Can the boys from D.C. build on Sunday's win and keep down the underachieving Bruins? Can the Caps' top D-pairing of Shaone Morrisonn and Milan Jurcina contain their former team's top line? Here are a few numbers to ponder:
  • The Caps are 5-1 in their last six games at the VC, but 1-4 in their last five in the third game of a 3 games-in-4 days situation and 1-4 in their last five against teams with losing records.
  • The Bruins are 4-0 in their last four against the Southeast Division, 6-1 in their last seven against teams with losing records, 4-0 in their last four at the VC and 6-1-1 in their last eight against the Caps.
So the stats favor the Caps, but the a bunch of the trends point to a Bruin victory. I guess that's why they play the games, eh?

Elsewhere 'Round the Rinks:
Daily Awards
  • Hart: Henrik Zetterberg (GWG, A, +1, 4 SOG)
  • Ross: Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Michael Nylander (2 points each)
  • Norris: Brett Lebda (A, +1)
  • Vezina: Dominik Hasek (W, 17 saves on 20 shots against)
  • Richard: seven players tied with 1G each
  • Calder: Jiri Hudler (G, 2 SOG)
  • Aiken: Henrik Lundqvist (L, 4 goals allowed on 26 shots against including blowing a 3-1 third period lead)

5 comments:

Kevin said...

Where is this Dunkin Donuts you speak of?

Anonymous said...

I'm originally from Boston, and let me tell ya, the Dunkie's coffee here is an inferior product.

JP said...

It's somewhere on the 100-level concourse, I forget exactly where. I'll check on it and let you know.

faux rumors said...

Its across from the ribs vendor. ; )

Kevin said...

It's on the concourse? Nevermind... I was hoping it was a storefront, like the McDonalds or that new coffee place on the 7th Street side. It's not going to do me any good at al on the 100 level at 8 AM.