The Peerless Prognosticator is ON THE AIR!!! -- Caps vs. Devils Two-Fer

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

The Cap have beaten the New Jersey Devils once . . . once . . . in the last 13 meetings.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

The Caps have been outscored 41-23 in those 13 games.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

The Caps have been held to one or no goals in six of the 13 games.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

Martin Brodeur is 30-10-4, 2.05, .914 in his career versus Washington.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

Brodeur hasn’t lost back-to-back decisions in regulation since dropping games to Buffalo (3-2) and Detroit (2-1), December 12th and 16^th.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

Brodeur is 21-5-4 since then, 1.93, .933, seven shutouts.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

Brodeur has figured in 59 of New Jersey’s 61 decisions this year . . . if he plays both games, it would hardly be a surprise.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

Brodeur leads the league in games played, wins, goals against, shutouts, total shots faced, and total saves. He is second in save percentage.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

New Jersey has won as many games this month (eight) as the Caps have since their high-water mark on December 16^th (15-10-7).

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

New Jersey has given up one . . . one . . . 5-on-3 power play goal this year; no one else has given up fewer than four (just thought I’d throw that in there).

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

The Caps haven’t won a season series against Jersey since the 1999-2000 season…they won’t this year, either.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . .

New Jersey doesn’t scare anyone with their offense, but they are at least competent. They have seven players in double-digits with goals, with perhaps three others who could get there – John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, and Brian Rafalski (the Caps have five, with no one else likely to get there, given playing time patterns these days). Jersey has seven players with at least 20 assists; the Caps have three.

Doesn’t look too good, does it? Well, that’s why the Caps have Jersey just where they want them . . . honest. Why? Because The Peerless always thinks that? Well, there is that, but there is something else. Tuesday night. New Jersey plays Pittsburgh Tuesday night, and the Penguins lurk seven points behind the Devils with a game in hand. New Jersey is as disciplined a club as there is in the league, but they are flesh and blood, too. Could there be the slightest peeking ahead?

The Caps haven’t scored more than three goals in a game in almost a month (a 7-2 win against Carolina). They don’t have to against this team, and that is something they need to keep in mind. Jersey plays their games close. 34 of their 61 decisions are of the one-goal variety (they’ve won 23). The Caps aren’t bad in close games – 7-7-10 in one goal games, 5-4 in two-goal games. Since Jersey doesn’t get involved in too many blowouts (12 three-goal-or-more decisions this year), the Caps actually have a fighting chance (and keep that word “fighting” in mind, this being a home-and-home, back-to-back series).

There is a difference between being a bad club and be a club that is playing badly. The Caps have been the latter for two months now. Injuries and the demoralizing effects of losses piling up does that. But the Caps can – and should be able to – muster a superior effort against this club, one they play close in most games, even as they usually end up on the short end of the score. This weekend . . .

I think they will, I think they will, I think they will . . .

Caps 3 – Devils 2 in both games.