[Bob 0119]

Today’s Storyline

A Mathieu Debut? – The Capitals announced the call-up of 21-year-old Mathieu Perreault from Hershey yesterday, and he is eligible to make his NHL debut tonight against New Jersey . He would be the youngest Caps player to skate in his first NHL game since Semyon Varlamov, who made his NHL debut last season at 20 years old on Dec. 13, 2008. Perreault, the Capitals’ sixth-round selection (177th overall pick) in the 2006 Entry Draft, will wear No. 85 with Washington



NOTE OF THE NIGHT

On a roll – Washington has points in nine straight games (6-0-3), its longest stretch without a regulation loss since Dec. 16, 2002, to Jan. 15, 2003 (8-0-3-3). The current stretch began with a shootout loss to New Jersey Oct. 12.



FIVE MORE NOTES NO MEDIA PERSON SHOULD BE WITHOUT

On a roll II – The Capitals are 4-0-4 in their last eight games against New Jersey, their longest stretch without a regulation loss to the Devils since an eight-game winning streak from Nov. 30, 1985, to Dec. 9, 1986. The only opponent Washington has a longer streak against without a regulation loss is Tampa Bay (11 wins).



Minus 8 – Left wing Alex Ovechkin will miss just the fifth game of his five-year career tonight, his third due to injury. Washington is 1-3 without Ovechkin in the lineup since he joined the team in 2005. Ovechkin may not miss facing martin Brodeur –he has only scored on Brodeur twice in his career.



Bicentennial – Brooks Laich is expected to play his 200th consecutive NHL game against New Jersey , the longest active streak on the Capitals. Laich last missed a game Feb. 21, 2007, against San Jose . His teammate, Brendan Morrison, had a 542-game streak from 2000-07, the longest streak of any active player.



Positive additions – Washington ’s two offseason acquisitions, Mike Knuble (+7) and Brendan Morrison (+6), rank second and third on the team in plus/minus rating.



Start somewhere – Center Mathieu Perreault, the Capitals’ sixth-round choice in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, is poised to make his NHL debut against the Devils. He would be the fifth member of that Capitals draft class to reach the NHL (Nicklas Backstrom, Semyon Varlamov, Michal Neuvirth, Oskar Osala).