Weekly Snapshot, Dec. 26

A weekly peek at the state of the Washington Capitals.

Record/Standings Position: 21-12-5 (47 points), T-1st Southeast Division/5th Eastern Conference/6th NHL

Last Week's Games:
* Won, 5-1, vs. New Jersey Devils
* Lost, 3-2 (SO), vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
* Won, 3-2, at Carolina Hurricanes

This Week's Games:
* Tuesday vs. New Jersey Devils (7 p.m., CSN-HD)
* Saturday at Pittsburgh Penguins in Winter Classic (1 p.m., NBC-HD)

Injuries: Jeff Schultz (2-3 weeks), Boyd Gordon (1-2 weeks), Matt Bradley (2-4 weeks), Tom Poti (day-to-day). Total Man Games Lost: 87.

Recent Transactions: None.

Top Storylines:
* The Caps had a much better week, going 2-0-1.
* The showcase is here, as the Winter Classic will be played on Saturday.
* It seems Michal Neuvirth is officially the No. 1 goalie.

Top Line (Who's Hot?): Mike Green (skated 34:03 Thursday against Pittsburgh, two seconds shy of his career high, and had a goal, six shots, eight hits, and five blocked shots); Brooks Laich (points in four straight and five of the last six); Caps' penalty kill (tied for ninth in the league coming into tonight's game and four-for-four against the Canes).

Scratches (Who's Not?): Ovechkin (despite an admirable number of assists, he doesn't look right); Semin (old Sasha has returned); Nicklas Backstrom (three points on Dec. 1, only five points since).