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Ovechkin, Capitals look to bounce back vs. Blackhawks

Oct 11, 2008 - 10:06 AM Chicago (0-1-0) at Washington (0-1-0) 7:00 pm. EDT

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals look to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season on Saturday, when they host the Chicago Blackhawks.

Washington entered the season with high expectations after posting a 15-win improvement and claiming the Southeast Division title under reigning Jack Adams Award winner Bruce Boudreau last season.

Ovechkin was a huge reason for the turnaround, as he scored a career-best 65 goals en route to winning the Maurice Richard, Art Ross and Hart Trophies. The ultra-talented left wing became the first player to score 60 goals in a season since Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr accomplished the feat with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1995-96.

Ovechkin will look to get on the scoresheet for the first time this season after being held without a point in Friday's season-opening 7-4 loss to Atlanta. He also was held without a point in the last meeting with the Blackhawks - a 5-0 loss on March 19.

Ovechkin undoubtedly will score plenty of goals. The Capitals' goaltending situation may be something for the team to worry about, however.

Washington will need a better showing from free-agent acquisition Jose Theodore if they are going to beat Chicago for the first time in four meetings. The former Hart and Vezina Trophy winner, who signed a two-year, $9 million deal in the offseason, was pulled after stopping just 13 of 17 shots on Friday.

The Blackhawks also have to be disappointed with new netminder Cristobal Huet, who they lured away from the Capitals. Huet, who signed a four-year, $22.54 million deal over the summer, stopped just 25 shots in a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Friday.

Huet is 6-2-1 with a 2.45 goal-against average in nine career games against the Capitals, who acquired him from the Montreal Canadiens at last season's trade deadline.

One acquisition that paid immediate dividends for Chicago was All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell, who had an assist in the loss. One of the top-scoring blue-liners in the league, Campbell signed an eight-year, $57 million deal in the offseason.