Cs+Bs=A-Plus Game

The Caps visit Boston tonight (7 p.m., Versus) for a much-anticipated game against the only team ahead of them in the Eastern Conference. It's also the first game for both teams to start the post-all-star portion of the schedule.

The Caps have defeated the Bruins twice already this season (both at Verizon Center) and have not won at TD Banknorth Garden since a 2-1 overtime win April 10, 2006. If the Caps do capture tonight's game, it would be their fourth straight win over the Bs -- something the team has never done in the 125-game series history.

Even though their penalty kill is struggling, the Caps have been extremely stingy in even-strength play as they haven't given up an even-strength goal in more than three games, spanning 198:34.

"Some guys are better puck handlers than other guys," Coach Bruce Boudreau said. "Mike Green and Tom Poti, we certainly miss [Poti] on the penalty kill. He can get the puck, make the move and get it out. John Erskine is a banger. Milan Jurcina ...they are guys who aren't really good with puck handling skills in tight to pull it back and get it out. They have to dump it off the boards, which isn't great. You look at the teams that have the best penalty killing, they have great puck-handlers back there."

Sounds like he's not too high on Jurcina, eh? Karl Alzner will be playing tonight, which means Poti and Shaone Morrisonn remain out with injuries.

The Caps have been held to two goals in three straight games for the first time this season and just the second time in Boudreau's tenure (also three games, Jan. 23-29, last season).

Note: Check out this column by John Feinstein, who basically calls for GM George McPhee to trade for a goalie.