Game Day: Caps Host Maple Leafs

The Caps will get the boost of a raucous red-rocking crowd tonight as they return home from a trip to freezing Florida to host the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are coming off of a shut out win of 4-0 over the thugnasty Flyers (who will be paying us a visit on Sunday), with Leafs' net minder Vesa Toskala making an impressive 38 saves in the process. Caps' goalie Michal Neuvirth won't soon forget his last meeting with the Leafs, as he faced the wrath of an offensive assault resulting in a 6-3 loss to a struggling Leafs team. The youngster has been a bit shaky in his last few outings, getting the hook early on in both of his last few games, so we'll have to see who gets the start this evening. Regardless, bolstered by the legions of Cap-crazy home fans and unique characters such as the 'astronaut', our boys are still hard to beat on home ice. HM will be watching as the puck drops at 7.

Meanwhile, HM's Twin A (that's how they identified my newborn twins almost 14 years ago when they were mere 4 pounders - wow, has time flown) is having the time of his life on the other side of the border (no, not Tijuana)! His team is in the Canadian capital of Ottawa to play in a holiday weekend tournament and are off to a great start. They beat the first Canadian team they faced (after a 10-hour bus ride, mind you) by a commanding 8-2 - so take that Don Cherry! Off to a great start but the competition will only get tougher from there - stand tall boys...

In closing, HM also wants to wish  Capitals Chief Marketing Officer Tim McDermott best of luck as he goes to work for the Philadelphia Eagles (yes, even though it is the Eagles). Tim previously worked for  Eagles organization and will be reunited with his brother Sean, who is the team's defensive coordinator. And you know how I love seeing brothers working in unison - something that doesn't happen so much in my house!