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Welcome to Caps 'Round the Clock, a blog covering the Washington Capitals and the NHL. In season, I update the Blog after every practice and on game day with Caps news and information, and then provide a recap and analysis after each contest. I also write a periodical Prospect Watch and weekly feature pieces on the state of the Men in Red and other things Capitals. And of course, I will post videos and tidbits from around the League and offer my two cents as the season wears on. In the offseason, I write a Report Card for each player, and will keep you updated on all the news about the Caps through the summer. I'm glad you're here, and hope you come back!

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Gameday: vs. St. Louis, Mar. 3

I am SO TOTALLY back on Twitter - @Ovi8! Follow me, yo.
The Washington Capitals will welcome the St. Louis Blues to Verizon Center tonight as they attempt to build on their modest two-game winning streak.  The Capitals come into tonight's game with 78 points in 64 games, which places them second in the Southeast Division and fifth overall in the Eastern Conference. The Blues, on the other hand, have 65 points in 63 games, which places them last in the Central Division and thirteenth in the Western Conference.  This is the second of two games between the Capitals and Blues this year; the Capitals won their first meeting in St. Louis on December 1st by a score of 4-1, it was the last game Washington would win before "The Streak" began.  Hopefully, that can be avoided this time around.

Blues coach Davis Payne is expected to roll with young goalie Ben Bishop in nets for his squad.  Bishop, the tallest goalie in the NHL at 6'7", has a 2.60 GAA and a .913 Save%, including a shutout, in four starts this season.  He is a big, technical goalie and has great potential to steal a game; he has never faced the Capitals.  Bishop is being forced into action at the moment because Blues regular goalie Jaroslav Halak (remember him?) is on injured reserve with a broken hand. Nothing personal, Jaro, but do everyone a favor and stay on IR for this game.  I mean forever.

Bruce Boudreau has confirmed that Michal Neuvirth will start in goal for the Capitals following his excellent performance against the Islanders Monday night. Neuvy has never faced the Blues in his young and bright career.  Outside the crease, no lineup changes are expected for the Capitals.  Jay Beagle is will likely remain sidelined with an upper body injury and is day-to-day, while Tyler Sloan and DJ King are expected to remain healthy scratches for Washington.  Tom Poti, Eric Fehr, and Mike Green are all still on injured reserve, making it very unlikely that we see any one of them; if one of them does return, it is likely to be Fehr, who practiced fully yesterday.

Puck drops for this one 7:08-ish.  For updates from the morning skate, click here. And for more reading from 24/7 today, what will Mike Green bring when he returns?

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