Gameday: vs. Toronto, Dec. 9

Crash the net. Crash it, I say!

The Washington Capitals will welcome the Toronto Maple Leafs to Verizon Center this evening as they try to continue some of the momentum picked up in their wild 5-3 win over the Senators on Wednesday night. The Caps, who even with their win Wednesday are 4-6 in their last ten games, enter tonight's game at 14-12-1, which gives them 29 standings points in 27 games.  Those 29 points place them second in the Southeast Division, seven off the pace of leaders Florida, and in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.  Toronto, who got off to a blazing start, have slowed down a bit recently, but are still at .500 over their last ten and 15-10-3 overall.  They have 33 points, which gives them sole possession of second place in the Northeast Division and fifth place in the Eastern Conference.  This is the second of four meetings between these two clubs this season; the Leafs put up a touchdown on the Caps in the first game, winning 7-1.

Former Caps coach and current Maple Leafs boss Ron Wilson is likely to give the call in goal to his number one man, James Reimer.  Reimer has missed most of the year with a concussion, but nonetheless a very good goaltender even though his current numbers may not support it: a 4-1-2 record, 2.81 GAA, .902 save percentage, and one shutout.  Toronto will also get a boost tonight as winger Colby Armstrong will return from an ankle injury, but the Leafs are still without Mike Komisarek, Matthew Lombardi, and Mike Brown.  They are near full strength, and own two of the NHL's top five points scorers in Joffrey Lupul and Phil Kessel.

Tomas Vokoun will get the start in nets from Dale Hunter, his second consecutive start.  Vokoun made 31 saves on 34 shots in his last outing, that win against the Senators on Wednesday, and is 11-7-0 on the year with a 2.74 GAA, .909 save percentage, and one shutout.  On the injury front, the Caps are still without Mike Green (groin) and Jay Beagle (concussion), who are out long term.  Matt Hendricks will miss tonight's game with a knee injury, which means that Mathieu Perreault will keep his place in the lineup.  Roman Hamrlik will feature in the lineup for the first time in a little over a week, which means that Jeff Schultz will be scratched.

Puck drops for this one 7:09-ish.