• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Ovechkin, newcomers lead Capitals into home opener

Oct 6, 2007 - 1:30 PM Carolina (1-0-1) at Washington (1-0-0) 7:00 pm EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) - The Washington Capitals' new faces made a good first impression and now they will have their first opportunity to win over the home crowd Saturday.

The Capitals are set for their home opener as they meet the Carolina Hurricanes in a matchup of Southeast Division foes.

Washington's top free-agent acquisitions, Michael Nylander and Viktor Kozlov, both scored and 19-year-old rookie Nicklas Backstrom added an assist in his NHL debut as the Capitals edged the Atlanta Thrashers, 3-1, on Friday.

Nylander came over from the New York Rangers after setting career highs of 26 goals and 83 points last season, while Kozlov collect 25 goals with the New York Islanders in 2006-07. A native of Sweden, Backstrom was picked fourth overall in the 2006 NHL Draft and is one of the top contenders for this season's Calder Trophy.

Alex Ovechkin, who 0is starting his third campaign, is closing in on his 100th career goal. The Russian left wing has led his club in scoring during his first two season and has amassed 98 goals in that span.

The Hurricanes have enjoyed some recent success in shutting down some of the NHL's top young talent. Goaltender Cam Ward and Carolina held both reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Sidney Crosby and 2007 Calder Trophy recipient Evgeni Malkin scoreless in Friday's 4-1 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Even though Ward as been outstanding over the first two games, the Carolina defense has been shaky, relinquishing 73 shots over that stretch.

Eric Staal has been the Hurricanes' best offensive weapon thus far, tallying three goals in their first two contests.