Minnesota Wild at Washington Capitals
February 26th, 2008, 7:00 PM
Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
TV: Versus

About the Opponent

Minnesota Wild: 34-23-5, 73 points, 2nd in the Northwest Division, 6th in the Western Conference

Team Leaders
Goals: Marian Gaborik (33)
Assists: Pierre-Marc Bouchard (38)
Points: Marian Gaborik (63)
Plus/Minus: tie - Keith Carney, Marian Gaborik (+10)
Penalty Minutes: Aaron Voros (115)
Fights: Aaron Voros (11)

Random Wild Fact
The Minnesota Wild have sold out every single regular season game in the franchise’s history.

Random Wild Statistic
During the NHL’s 2004-05 lockout, Marian Gaborik played for HC Dukla Trencin in Slovakia, where he posted a +43 rating in 29 games.

Keys to the Game

Washington
Clear the front of the net. The Capitals have let their opponents dictate play in front of their own net the last couple games and it has cost them. The defense (especially John Erskine) and centers need to step it up and eliminate scoring chances in this area.

Minnesota
Control the play. When the Wild have success they do so by controlling the pace and flow of the game. Tonight, against a skilled Washington team, will be no exception.

Players to Watch

Washington
Alexander Semin - a five game goal scoring streak has given Semin more confidence in his playmaking skill than he’s had all season. Look for Semin to create some offense - but not necessarily pot the goal(s) himself.

Minnesota
Marian Gaborik - When people talk about the unbalanced schedule, talk generally centers around the Western Conference fans who have to wait to see Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, but missing out Gaborik is almost as bad. The immensely gifted Gaborik is a true game-breaker but is underrated because of his injury troubles - he’s played in only 170 of the Wild’s 226 games since the lockout. However if he were to play all his team’s games at the same per-game rate, Gaborik would have had 83 points (48+35) in 2005 and 97 in 2006(51+46). This season, Gaborik would be on pace for 47 goals and 43 assists.

Around the (Inter)net
Faux Rumors with more on the trade deadline…Darren McCarty has signed with the Red Wings…Tarik looks at how the makeup of the Southeast might change by the end of tomorrow…Could Brad Richards really be traded?…USA Today takes a loot at last year’s trades…Mike Vogel has some interesting thoughts about Mats Sundin and the nature of the trade deadline in general…A picture’s worth a thousand words, right?…Some more national exposure to come for the Caps…Thoughts on the Caps at the deadline from DC Sports Report.