Gameday: vs. New Jersey, Nov. 12

Can the Caps sweep their back to back?

The Washington Capitals will welcome the New Jersey Devils to Verizon Center this evening for the second half of a home-and-home as they try and build on their win last night.  The Capitals enter the action tonight with a 10-4 record, which gives them 20 standings points coming off that 3-1 victory over New Jersey.  Those 20 points place DC first in the Southeast Division and third in the Eastern Conference.  The Devils come in 7-6-1 for 15 points, which places them fourth in the Atlantic Division and ninth in the East. This is the second of four meetings between these two teams this season.

The Devils are likely to start backup Johan Hedberg, as head coach Peter DeBoer indicated that this would be the plan since midweek.  Hedberg, the de jure backup, has put up de facto starter numbers this year when he has played, compiling a 5-3-1 record, 2.34 GAA, .920 save percentage, and one shutout.  The Devils will be without two of their top forwards for tonight's contest, as top center Travis Zajac has missed all year with an achilles injury and left winger Ilya Kovalchuk has an unspecified leg injury that has kept him out the last week. Other than that, DeBoer is expected to keep the same lineup that he rolled with last night.

Tomas Vokoun seems the likely choice to man the cage for Bruce Boudreau's men after his stellar 32 save performance Friday night.  Vokoun is 8-2 on the year with a 2.39 GAA, .921 save percentage, and one shutout.  On the injury front, Mike Green is out after suffering another injury to his right leg on Friday night; Jeff Schulz will replace him in the lineup.  Other than that switch, the Caps are expected to keep the same lineup, which means that Mathieu Perreault will be a healthy scratch and Alexander Semin, despite coming under heavy fire last night after being benched in the second period, will retain his place.  Shocker.  (Kidding).

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