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Thrashers-Capitals Preview

Oct 23, 2010 - 4:36 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Atlanta (3-3-0) at Washington (4-3-0), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Scoring goals has suddenly become an issue for Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. A visit from the Atlanta Thrashers could solve that problem.

Ovechkin and the Capitals look to re-establish their dominance of the Thrashers when they meet in the nation's capital on Saturday night.

Washington (4-3-0) has lost consecutive games following a four-game winning streak, during which it outscored opponents 15-7 behind four goals and three assists from Ovechkin.

The Capitals weren't nearly as productive while getting swept in a home-and-home set by Boston, losing 4-1 on the road Thursday after falling 3-1 at home two days prior.

Ovechkin, the team leader with four goals and eight points, went scoreless in both contests, while totaling 13 shots and a minus-3 rating. Ovechkin hasn't gone three consecutive games without a point since Feb. 15-20, 2008.

Washington also struggled on the penalty kill Thursday, allowing the Bruins to convert 3 of 4 power-play opportunities.

"We've got to stay out of the penalty box a little bit more and clean up our own zone," left wing Brooks Laich told the team's official website. "I think we can still take some positives out of this game even though we lost."

Hosting the Thrashers (3-4-0) could be just what Washington needs to get untracked.

The Capitals have won seven in a row over the Southeast Division rivals at the Verizon Center with Ovechkin tallying seven goals and eight assists. However, the left wing was limited to an assist as Washington's eight-game overall winning streak in the series ended with a 4-2 season-opening defeat at Atlanta on Oct. 8.

Ovechkin's 28 goals and 32 assists in 37 games against the Thrashers are his highest totals against any opponent. He's accumulated 12 goals and 16 assists in 18 home meetings.

While Ovechkin is looking to continue that remarkable production, it's unclear who coach Bruce Boudreau will start in net after Michal Neuvirth exited after 12:42 of play Tuesday due to the flu. He returned Thursday to play 47 seconds and didn't face a shot while Semyon Varlamov made 30 saves.

Neuvirth is 4-2-0 with a 2.45 goals-against average in seven games, while Varlamov is 0-1-0 with a 2.90 GAA in two appearances since returning from a groin injury.

Both have had success against Atlanta with Varlamov winning all four starts with a 2.50 GAA. Neuvirth is 3-1-0 with a 2.52 GAA, with the loss coming in a 27-save effort two weeks ago.

The Thrashers are trying to win consecutive games over the Capitals for the first time since February 2008, but will need improved play from Chris Mason.

Mason is coming off his worst performance of the season, getting pulled after giving up three first-period goals on 16 shots in a 5-2 loss to Tampa Bay on Friday. He had 38 stops in a 4-1 loss to Buffalo two nights earlier.

Still, he's expected to start Saturday in an effort to improve upon his 4-0-0 record and 1.89 GAA in five games against the Capitals.

Mason made 29 saves in the most recent meeting.

Atlanta's Andrew Ladd is having the best opening month of his career, totaling a team-high seven points. The left wing had 11 points in 34 October games over his previous five seasons with Carolina and Chicago.

He found the net against Washington earlier this month, giving him six points in seven meetings.