The Washington Capitals' win streak may have been snapped in their loss to the Dallas Stars earlier in the week, but their spirit was not. That game ended on an interference penalty called on Alex Ovechkin, erasing what would have been a tying goal by John Carlson with less than one minute left in the game.
The goal should have counted. Overtime should have been played. The Caps are angry. Rightfully so. They'll be taking out that anger on the Atlanta Thrashers tonight.
Due to some strange scheduling, the Capitals and Thrashers are meeting for the fifth time already this season. Almost one-fifth of Washington's games have been against Atlanta. Fortunately for the Capitals, tonight's game will be in the friendly confines of the Verizon Center, where the home team is 12-1-1 this year.
Atlanta is just two points out of second place in the Southeast Division, and are coming off a 3-2 loss on the road to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.
The Capitals will be seeking revenge for the 5-0 pounding they received in Atlanta on Nov. 19. Washington has been playing like a different team since then. The Thrashers will find out tonight.