Washington riding an eight-game win streak
The last time the Capitals won eight games in a row they had three future Hall-of-Fame defensemen patrolling their blueline in Rod Langway, Larry Murphy and Scott Stevens. The last time the Caps won eight games in a row they traded future Hall-of-Fame forward Mike Gartner late in the season — along with Murphy. And, of course, the last time the Caps won eight games in a row they were bounced in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
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It’s hard to compare teams across eras. The NHL was a different game in the late 1980s — a wilder time with more brawls and higher overall scoring. It’s been 21 years — late in the 1988-89 season — since the Caps last celebrated a streak this long. That’s just about the only thing the current group has in common with its predecessors.
Washington seeks only the second nine-game winning streak in franchise history when it plays the Florida Panthers tonight at Verizon Center. The Caps (35-12-6, 76 points) lead the Eastern Conference and are the hottest team in the NHL. The 1983-84 team won 10 games in a row.
“We’re really just trying to play our own game and not change things,” said Caps forward Eric Fehr.
There’s no reason to right now. Washington has won 11 of its last 12 games with a lineup that has proven remarkably stable under coach Bruce Boudreau — known for his penchant for line juggling. All four forward lines have stayed the same since a Jan. 5 game against Montreal. That’s 10 games and 25 days.
The Caps have a franchise-record 21-point lead in the Southeast Division entering play Thursday. But even if the Florida game lacks drama in the standings, the Panthers still pose a challenge. That’s because goalie Tomas Vokoun is second in the NHL with a .931 save percentage. He also ranks second in shutouts with six and is expected to start for the Czech Republic at the Winter Olympics next month.
The Caps have beaten Florida four times this season — twice with Vokoun in net. Washington is 10-2 against the Southeast Division this season and 19-3-3 at Verizon Center. The team record for home victories is 30, set in 1985-86.
