By John Moore / inspin.com

Tonight's Capitals face off as home team against the St. Louis Blues, sees one of the most popular players ever - to wear their sweater - starting his new job as Washington's head coach, as Dale Hunter leads tonight’s game.

The announcement of Dale Hunter taking the job was made on Monday morning as the firing of head coach Bruce Boudreau was made. This made Hunter one of just four players to have his number retired by Washington.

With the Caps struggling to reclaim their identity - after the club lost six of its last eight games, including a 5-1 setback at Buffalo on Saturday-, having to do it in their first game under Hunter and against a team that will come after them and defend like hell will make life difficult.

Hunter, who coached the London Knights was known for working heavily in offensive stars to push the game. He has never coached in the NHL, but he was in his 11th season with the Knights and owns the highest winning percentage in league history with a record of 451-189-23-24 also becoming the 2003-04 winner of the Brian Kilrea Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Coach of the Year award.

Meanwhile, the Blues have turned things around since Ken Hitchcock took over for Davis Payne. St. Louis is 7-1-2 under Hitchcock after starting the season with a 6-7-0 record.

St. Louis won its third straight game Sunday in Columbus, as David Backes scored a power-play goal in the third period to lift the Blues to a 2-1 victory at Nationwide Arena. The Blues hope to have forward Vladimir Sobotka back tonight after he missed Sunday's game due to oral surgery. Sobotka has two goals and seven assists in 22 games this season.

St. Louis has won two straight on the road and is 5-6-1 as the guest this year. The Blues will complete a three-game swing Friday in Colorado.

Washington has won two straight, three of four and four of its last six meetings with the Blues. St. Louis has dropped its last three trips to D.C. and last won in the nation's capital on Jan. 28, 2003.

Having a tough task right off the bat might prove to be the best thing for the Caps to kick off the Dale Hunter era.

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