Preview: Thrashers @ Capitals

Sigh. My spring break is coming to a close, as is the regular season. I, like the Caps, got into playoff (exam) mode, finally getting around to finishing covering the curriculum for Calculus BC. The Caps start their time that really matters the middle of next week, and until then have two games: against Atlanta, tonight, and against Boston, Sunday afternoon on NBC.

Previews: NHL.com, Mike Vogel, Japers' Rink, The Peerless Prognosticator

So, with the President's Trophy all locked up, what do the Caps have to play for?

• Alex Ovechkin trails Sidney Crosby in the goals race, one back and each with two games remaining. Considering his history against Atlanta and Boston, his chances look good of at least a tie. Ovechkin is two goals shy of 50, and also trails Henrik Sedin in the points race by two with a game in hand on the Swede. You know the Caps will be looking to set Ovie up.
  
• Mike Knuble is a goal shy of 30. Early word is though he'll be a healthy scratch for tonight.
  
• Alexander Semin is a goal shy of 40. I hope he's alright after receiving a nasty elbow from Maxime Talbot Tuesday night against Pittsburgh.
• Mike Green is a goal shy of 20, and early word has him in the lineup again.
• Nicklas Backstrom is a point shy of 100 for the season.
• The Caps with a win would officially move over the .500 pts% mark in franchise history.
• The Caps are looking to sweep the season series from the Thrashers, already having posted five regulation wins.
  

From the other side, the Thrashers have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. This game is more meaningless for them than for the Caps. All they have is guys playing for new contracts, like Maxim Afinigenov. But the penultimate game of the season will have little bearing. The most important thing, for the Caps, is to keep everyone healthy.

Puck drop at 7 pm EST.