Tonight's Lineup and Other Stuff
The forward combos and pairings appear to be the same for tonight's game against the NHL-leading Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Looks like Kolzig will face Hasek in net.
Joe Louis brought back memories for a few guys at the morning skate, but especially for Bruce Boudreau and Brent Johnson.
For Boudreau, it's going to be the first building where he will have coached and played.
"It's hockey history," he said. "It's not like Carolina and Florida and everything else. There's a lot of hockey history here. It's Hockeytown. It's a good feeling."
He paused then added, "Before the game it's a good feeling." I asked Boudreau if he remembered his last game here, he said, "No. But I probably didn't play much."
For Johnson, Joe Louis reminds him of his grandfather, Hall of Famer Sid Abel. Johnson wears Abel's No. 12 on the back of his helmet. Abel's number is also one of six hanging from the rafters. Johnson said he's got about 15 friends and family members coming from his hometown of Farmington for the game.
Tonight will also mark Tomas Fleischmann's first time facing the team that drafted him 63rd overall in 2002. Fleischmann was acquired from the Red Wings in Feb. 2004 with a first round pick (that became Mike Green) for Robert Lang.
During his media session this morning, Boudreau acknowledged that the Caps will face their biggest test since he took over behind the bench.
"Now we're hitting the best," Boudreau said. "You can really see where you need to improve. If we play our best, then we can see where we stand. And I think we're going to."
Tonight's lines:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Pettinger
Fleischmann-Nylander-Semin
Laing-Steckel-Bradley
Brashear-Kozlov-Laich
'D' pairings
Green-Morrisonn
Poti-Jurcina
Pothier-Schultz
Erskine-Eminger
The forward combos and pairings appear to be the same for tonight's game against the NHL-leading Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Looks like Kolzig will face Hasek in net.
Joe Louis brought back memories for a few guys at the morning skate, but especially for Bruce Boudreau and Brent Johnson.
For Boudreau, it's going to be the first building where he will have coached and played.
"It's hockey history," he said. "It's not like Carolina and Florida and everything else. There's a lot of hockey history here. It's Hockeytown. It's a good feeling."
He paused then added, "Before the game it's a good feeling." I asked Boudreau if he remembered his last game here, he said, "No. But I probably didn't play much."
For Johnson, Joe Louis reminds him of his grandfather, Hall of Famer Sid Abel. Johnson wears Abel's No. 12 on the back of his helmet. Abel's number is also one of six hanging from the rafters. Johnson said he's got about 15 friends and family members coming from his hometown of Farmington for the game.
Tonight will also mark Tomas Fleischmann's first time facing the team that drafted him 63rd overall in 2002. Fleischmann was acquired from the Red Wings in Feb. 2004 with a first round pick (that became Mike Green) for Robert Lang.
During his media session this morning, Boudreau acknowledged that the Caps will face their biggest test since he took over behind the bench.
"Now we're hitting the best," Boudreau said. "You can really see where you need to improve. If we play our best, then we can see where we stand. And I think we're going to."
Tonight's lines:
Ovechkin-Backstrom-Pettinger
Fleischmann-Nylander-Semin
Laing-Steckel-Bradley
Brashear-Kozlov-Laich
'D' pairings
Green-Morrisonn
Poti-Jurcina
Pothier-Schultz
Erskine-Eminger
