Washington, D.C. (My Sportsbook) - Jaromir Jagr begins his second season in Washington when the Capitals faceoff against the Nashville Predators Friday at the MCI Center to kick off the 2002-03 season for both teams.

The Capitals hoped that the offseason acquisition of Jagr would send the club e Capitals hoped that the offseason acquisition of Jagr would send the club deep into the playoffs for a run at the Stanley Cup. However, injuries proved costly as Washington finished second behind the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Carolina Hurricanes in the Southeast Division, and just two points behind the Montreal Canadiens for the eighth and final seed in the East with a 36-33-11-2 mark.

Key defensive performers Calle Johansson, Steve Konowalchuk and Jeff Halpern missed most of the season with injuries, and goaltender Olaf Kolzig suffered a knee injury and had a sub-par season as a result.

Jagr (31g, 48a) missed 13 games over the course of the year with a strained groin and dipped to fifth in the league in scoring after four straight scoring titles with Pittsburgh.

As a result, Washington fired head coach Ron Wilson and replaced him with Bruce Cassidy, the American Hockey League Coach of the Year with Grand Rapids last season.

The 37-year-old Cassidy, who was drafted as the 18th pick in 1983 by Chicago but played in just 36 NHL games due to knee injuries, became the second youngest coach in the NHL. Only 35-year-old Paul Maurice, who guided the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup Finals last season, is younger.

Washington acquired another forward from Pittsburgh this offseason to help stabilize its offense. Robert Lang, who worked well with Jagr as a Penguin, signed with the Capitals on the first day of free agency. However, 23-goal scorer from a year ago, Ulf Dahlen, inked a free agent deal in Dallas.

Kolzig, who led the Capitals to the Stanley Cup Finals in 1997-98 with a 2.20 goals-against average, and a 1.95 GAA in the playoffs, saw his GAA balloon to 2.79, as he gave up a career-high 192 goals in 71 games last season.

Washington, which has taken the last two from Nashville at MCI, is 12-14-2 all-time on opening night.

The Predators regressed 11 points in the standings a year ago and finished ahead of only Columbus in the Western Conference with a 28-41-13-0 record.

Martin Erat, Denis Arkhipov and Vladimir Orszagh, who are all under 25, combined for 44 goals and 67 assists last season. Arkhipov, 23, led the team with 20 goals a season ago and his combination of size -- 6-3, 220 pounds -- and puckhandling ability have folks in Nashville very excited.

The team is hoping center David Legwand, the club's first-ever selection in 1998, can finally live up to his potential this season. The skilled pivot has been the model for false hope during his three years in the NHL, averaging a meager 12 goals and 20 assists over that span.

Mike Dunham is back in net for Atlanta after a poor showing last season (2.61 GAA, .908 SP). He was still the team's best player on many nights and remains the backbone for any success it will have now and in the future. Backup Tomas Vokoun is always ready to step in.

Nashville, which is just 1-3-1 in its last five versus the Capitals, is 1-3-0 in its brief history on opening night.