Gameday: vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 10

Mike Green winds up on his game-winner Saturday.

The Washington Capitals will welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to Verizon Center Monday night as they try and build on their momentum following Saturday's season opening win over Carolina. The Capitals come into tonight's game tied for first in the Southeast Division with 2 points in 1 game, which also places them sixth in the Eastern Conference.  Tampa Bay, on the other hand, is also tied for first with two points in two games, which has them eighth in the Conference.  The Lightning are coming off a 4-1 beating at the hands of the Bruins on Saturday night in Boston. Tonight marks the first of six meetings this season between these two teams, and also the first time Washington has faced Tampa since they were swept out of the playoffs by the Bolts last May.

Tampa Bay coach Guy Boucher will start Dwayne Roloson in goal, the ageless wonder's second start this year.  Rollie made 32 saves in his debut, a win over Carolina, and has a 1.00 GAA to go along with a .970 save percentage.  The Lightning are led offensively by Martin St. Louis, who has two goals and an assist in their two games so far, but his entire line is lethal; mighty mite is set up with Steven Stamkos and Steve Downie.  Boucher does not have any injuries to deal with this early in the season; his healthy scratches will be known later this morning.

Tomas Vokoun is expected to make his Capitals debut this evening in goal after surprisingly yielding to Michal Neuvirth for Saturday's opener.  Vokoun finished last year with a 22-28-5 record to go along with a 2.55 GAA, .922 save percentage and six shutouts for the Florida Panthers.  The Capitals are led offensively by Nicklas Backstrom, who has two assists on the young season. On the injury front, John Erskine and Tom Poti are both out with shoulder and groin injuries, respectively, and will not play.  Based on practice yesterday, I would guess that Marcus Johansson will return to the lineup to center the second line and that Mathieu Perreault will be a healthy scratch with DJ King; whether that is actually the case will be known after the morning skate.

Puck drops 7:08-ish.  Check back later.