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Capitals-Canucks Preview

Dec 17, 2009 - 8:51 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Washington (21-7-6) at Vancouver (19-15-0), 10:00 p.m. EDT

The Washington Capitals are not in much of a fight for the Southeast Division lead, but they're definitely not afraid to defend each other.

With defenseman Mike Green expected back in the lineup after getting helped off the ice in their last game, the Capitals continue their four-game trip against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night.

Washington (21-7-6), which has won eight of 10 and owns the largest division lead by far in the NHL, improved to 1-1-0 on its trip with a 6-1 victory over Colorado on Tuesday. The Capitals led 5-0 late in the second period when Green was checked from behind by Avalanche forward David Koci.

"I couldn't see him, so it must have been from behind," said Green, who did not return after receiving several stitches over his left eye. "He's a big guy and he has to be more careful."

While the Capitals and coach Bruce Boudreau are hoping the league disciplines Koci for the hit, Capitals defenseman John Erskine went after Koci and tried to deliver immediate punishment.

"You've got to stand up for your teammate," said Erskine, who picked up a fighting major and a misconduct.

Washington bounced back after squandering a two-goal first-period lead in a 6-3 loss in Toronto on Saturday. Tomas Fleischmann and Mike Knuble gave the Capitals a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes Tuesday before Washington scored three unanswered goals in the second period.

"We knew if we didn't keep playing like we did in the first period, it might end up like last game," said Fleischmann, who scored twice against the Avs and recorded six goals and three assists in his last seven games.

Nicklas Backstrom, who leads the Capitals with 28 assists and 39 points, plays his first game at GM Place since being selected fourth overall there in the 2006 draft.

"It was great moment," Backstrom said. "(Alex Ovechkin) Ovie was calling my name on the stage."

Ovechkin, the reigning two-time MVP, has two goals and two assists in three career games against Vancouver (19-15-10). He did not record a point in the last meeting, a 5-1 Capitals home win Oct. 13, 2008, that was the Canucks' first loss in six games to Washington.

Despite two assists from Sami Salo and Henrik Sedin's team-leading 15th goal, Vancouver had its three-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 loss to Anaheim on Wednesday. The Canucks managed two shots on goal in the first period, but Roberto Luongo made 13 of his 31 saves in the opening 20 minutes as the period ended in a 1-all tie.

"We totally got outplayed," said coach Alain Vigneault, whose team is 3-1-0 on an eight-game homestand. "We were very fortunate that our goaltender brought his 'A' game. He kept us in."

Luongo, expected to start Friday, won 10 straight starts versus the Capitals prior to the Oct. 13 loss.

Jose Theodore, 4-1-0 with a 2.19 GAA in his last five games, will likely get the start in net for Washington. He went 5-0-0 with a 1.98 GAA in his last five games against Vancouver.

Sedin and identical twin brother Daniel each have a nine-game point streak going. Henrik Sedin has a goal and 14 assists during that stretch while Daniel has six goals and seven assists.

Ovechkin recorded a goal and an assist in the Capitals' last visit to Vancouver - a 3-2 shootout loss Oct. 27, 2006.