RED ALERT: Caps glad to be home

The Washington Capitals will be glad to see the friendly confines of the Verizon Center tonight as they host the Montreal Canadians.  The Capitals have fallen into  a mid-season funk, dropping three consecutive games, two coming on a West Coast swing to Los Angeles and San Jose. In the three losses, Washington has been outscored 13-6.

Injuries . . . Nicklas Backstrom returns tonight after missing two periods against the Kings.  Backstrom was forced to exit the game early because of a migraine.   Alexander Semin left practice yesterday but is not expected to be out tonight.

Varlamov injured again . . . The concerns that have been apparent on young net minder Semyon Varlamov since the day he was drafted, cropped up again.  Varly’s problem has never been style of play, consistency, and adjustment to the NHL game, but more so, Varlamov’s ability to stay healthy, his durability.  Varlamov won at Hershey on a conditioning stint in Hershey, stopping 28 of 29 shots and helping the Bears win an impressive 10th consecutive game.  However,m once again, Varlamov suffered what the Caps deem to be a ‘lower body’ injury and will likely be out for two weeks.   Varlamov last played on DEC 7 and will now not make a return at least until the third week of January. Little more read on the Varly injury (ESPN).

This has been an ongoing concern for the Capitals.  It is also precisely why Capitals fans should be thankful for the excellent young depth they have between the pipes, mainly, Michal Neuvirth and 2008 draft pick Braden Holtby.  Holtby made the ECHL all start team and has taken over for Neuvirth in Hershey and has posted a 9-1 record and a GAA of just 1.45 and a save percentage of .949.

Read it all and more at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2010/01/05/red-alert-caps-glad-to-be-home.html