Caps/Rangers Preview

Tonight the Capitals take on the blue-shirted foes from last season's playoff run at Madison Square Garden and will most likely see the return of star Alex Ovechkin to the action. Meanwhile the team has called up some of Mathieu Perreault's buddies from the Hershey Bears with the summoning of center Jay Beagle and goaltender Michal Neuvirth. Sources say that Beagle will most likely only play if David Steckel can't and that goaltender Jose Theodore has returned to D.C. for "personal reasons." As of yesterday, Boyd Gordon and Milan Jurcina are still listed as day-to-day with injuries.

The 11-8-1 Rangers sit at fifth place in the East but are waging their own battle against the injury bug. Captain Chris Drury is still sidelined with concussion symptoms after receiving a brutal high hit from the Calgary Flames' Curtis Glencross (which drew Glencross a three-game suspension). And young Brandon Dubinsky is out with a broken hand. That said, these guys are still an offensive threat as the Caps saw up close the last time they visited the Phone Booth. Marian Gaborik is second in the league in scoring boasting 25 points and his pal, Vinny Prospal, is no slouch himself with 21 points to his credit.

And of course there's always drama when Sean Avery is in the lineup. The uber-pest of the League has two goals and four assists - plus his own new line of clothing. And I hate to give the guy any kind of credit, but he does have a pretty cool Web site. In any case, it's always refreshing to see someone put this guy in his place - who's going to do it tonight for the visitors?

Get ready for a feisty contest as the puck drops at 7 p.m. (VERSUS)...