The washington capitals seem to have made it past the rough patch of the season. after posting a 5-9 record in the month of December the Cpitals began the new year with a win in the winter classic and now must play the tampa bay lightning in a battle for the southeast division lead.

the lightning are the biigest threat to the three time defending southeast division champs. They posses on of the game's best young super stars in Steven Stamkos and are led by one of the best young head coaches in hockey, guy boucher.

Boucher wins, plain and simple. He won 54 out of 68 games in Drummondville of the QMJHL in 2008-09 and last year with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL he won 52 games, finished with 111 points and lost in the Conference finals in seven games to the Dallas Stars.

the capitals have dominated Tampa Bay this year in winning both games played against thyem by a combined score of 12-3.