Pre-Game Notes

The Washington Capitals square off with the Tampa Bay Lightning this afternoon at Verizon Center with an opportunity to make history. With a win, the Capitals would tie the 1983-84 Capitals for most consecutive wins in franchise history with 10.

Jose Theodore will start in goal this afternoon after Michael Neuvirth started the previous two games. Theodore suffered a hip flexor strain in the second period of Tuesday night's win over the New York Islanders.

Coach Bruce Boudreau had this to say about Theodore in his pre-game presser.

"Theo was playing really good before [his injury]," said Boudreau. "He deserves to come back, and Michael struggled against these guys last time."

Boudreau was referring to the last loss the Capitals suffered. The Lightning beat the Capitals, 7-4, on January 12, and chased Michael Neuvirth from the net after the first period in which the Lightning scored 4 goals.

Here is what Boudreau said when asked what he might say to his team about their last meeting with the Lightning.

"That we weren’t very good," said Boudreau. "That we got our butts handed to us."

Matt Bradley will be a game-time decision after suffering what Boudreau called "an upper body ouch" on Friday against the Florida Panthers. Bradley did not practice yesterday, and his status will determined after the pre-game warmup today.

If Bradley can't go, look for Quintin Laing to take Bradley's spot with David Steckel and Boyd Gordon on the fourth line.

Tyler Sloan will dress today in place of the suspended Mike Green.

Foward pairings:

First line- Ovechkin, Backstrom, Knuble
Second line- Semin, Fleischmann, Laich
Third line- Chimera, B. Morrison, Fehr
Fourth line- Gordon, Steckel, Bradley/Laing

D-pairings:

1st pairing- Schultz, Pothier
2nd pairing- Poti, Erskine
3rd pairing- S. Morrison, Sloan.