Gameday: vs. Tampa Bay, Jan. 13

#OccupyTheNet

The Washington Capitals will welcome the Tampa Bay Lightning to Verizon Center on Friday night as they attempt to continue some of the momentum that they picked up with their 1-0 win over the hated Penguins on Wednesday.  The Caps enter tonight's game with a 6-3-1 record in their last ten games and a 22-17-2 mark overall for 46 standings points.  Those 46 standings points place them second in the Southeast Division, four points back of the division leading Panthers, and eighth overall in the Eastern Conference.  The Lightning, on the other hand, lost 5-2 to the Hurricanes last night, are 3-5-2 over their last ten games and 17-21-4 on the year for 38 standings points.  Those 38 standings points place the Bolts fourth in the Southeast Division and thirteenth overall in the East.  This is the second of six meetings between these two clubs this season; the Capitals won the first meeting 6-5, in a shootout, in early October.

Dwayne Roloson will get the call in nets from Guy Boucher after Mathieu Garon was blitzed by the Hurricanes last night, getting pulled in the process.  Roloson, on the year, is 6-9-2 with a 3.76 GAA, .880 save percentage, and one shutout. He lost his only start against the Caps this year, that game in October, allowing five goals and falling in the shootout.  Outside the crease, Tampa Bay is dealing with several injuries.  Defensemen Mattias Ohlund (knee) and Victor Hedman (concussion) are out, as is right winger Adam Hall, who suffered a torn pectoral muscle last week.

Tomas Vokoun is almost certain to receive the start in goal following his sparkling 30 save shutout performance against the Penguins on Wednesday.  On the year, Vokoun is 17-10-0 on the year with a 2.56 GAA, .915 save percentage, and two shutouts.  In his one start against the Bolts this year, the second game of the season, Vokoun allowed five goals but pulled out the win in a shootout.  On the injury front, both Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) and Mike Green (groin) are on injured reserve and will not play.  Cody Eakin, will play in place of Mathieu Perreault, while Jeff Schultz and John Erskine will be scratched for the second game in a row as Tomas Kundratek played well in his NHL debut.

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