The Blackhawks look to bounce back from a 4-2 Friday night setback against the Rangers in New York when they battle Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals in D.C. on Saturday evening.
Jose Theodore has replaced 16-year Capital veteran Olaf Kolzig in net for Washington, who also seeks its first win of the year. Theodore, who signed a two-year, $9 million contract in the offseason, looks to bounce back from a rough night in the team's season opener, where he gave up four goals before getting pulled in the second period. Coincidentally, it was new Blackhawk Cristobal Huet that helped nudge Kolzig out of Washington, as Huet's acquisition at the trade deadline last season sent Kolzig to the bench.
The Caps revitalized the hockey scene in D.C. last year, as the club finished 43-31-8 before bowing out to Philadelphia in the first round of the playoffs.
Nikolai Khabibulin will most likely get the nod in net for the Hawks, as Khabby holds a 2.00 GAA in 20 career games against the Caps. Huet is 6-2-1 with a 2.45 GAA in nine games versus Washington. The Capitals have lost three straight against the Hawks since posting a 4-0 road victory on February 15, 2004. The Hawks, who contained Ovechkin in the teams' last meeting, must also contend with rising star offensive defenseman Mike Green.
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