Caps Visit Lightning

Washington Capitals at Tampa Bay Lightning
Saturday, February 16th, 2008, 7:30
St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Florida
TV: CSN
Last Meeting: 12/16/2007, Caps win 3-2

About the Opponent

Tampa Bay Lightning: 25-27-6, 56 points, 5th in the Southeast Division, 14th in the Eastern Conference.

Team Leaders
Goals: Vincent Lecavalier (32)
Assists: Martin St. Louis (49)
Points: Vincent Lecavalier (75)
Plus/Minus: tie - Vincent Lecavalier and Michel Ouellet (+5)
Penalty Minutes: Shane O'Brien (124)
Fights: Andre Roy (10)

Random Lightning Fact
Vincent Lecavalier was named captain of the Lightning on March 11, 2000 at the age of 19 years and 11 months. At the time he was the youngest captain in NHL history, surpassing Steve Yzerman who was named captain of the Red Wings when he was 21 years, 5 months.

Random Lightning Statistic
Center Brad Richards' -26 plus/minus rating is the worst in the NHL this season.

Keys to the Game

Washington
Secondary scoring. Yeah, it's probably going to be that for a while.

Tampa Bay
Get physical. The Lightning are a team built more on speed and skill than grit and physicality but with the Capitals playing back-to-back road games, Tampa would benefit from griding it out as much as possible.

Players to Watch

Washington
Sami Lepisto - if he gets in the lineup it will be interesting to see what Lepisto can do...and if he can play well enough to get playing time away from John Erskine.

Tampa Bay
Vinny Prospal - Ever since their 2005 Cup run, people have talked about Tampa's "Big Three" of Richards, St. Louis and Lecavalier, but Prospal is an offensive threat as well - and already has 26 goals and 54 points so far this season.