Game #70
Caps (46-14-9, 101 points) at Florida Panthers (28-29-10, 66 points)
This is a familiar situation for the Caps. Once again they have to navigate a short stretch without star forward Alex Oveckin, suspended two game for his boarding hit on Chicago defenseman Brian Campbell on Sunday. They’ve actually been pretty good at it so far. Washington went 4-2 when Ovechkin went down with a shoulder injury on Nov. 1. They won two more games when he sat after his first suspension in early December. That’s a 6-2 record without the two-time MVP.
So forgive the Panthers if they don’t see this as much of an advantage. Florida got to play the Caps three times this season without Ovechkin and lost them all. The combined score of those three games? 17-7. Just for good measure Florida also lost twice to Washington with Ovechkin in the lineup. He had a goal and an assist in those games. The Panthers figure to be another desperate team. Few are talking about them any more in regards to the Eastern Conference playoff race. But Florida – currently in 12th place – has at least one game in hand on everyone in front of it. No. 8 seed Boston is faltering without star center Marc Savard. The Panthers have two games in hand on ninth place New York. The next four games are at BankAtlantic Center, including one against 10th place Tampa Bay. It’s a stretch. Just pointing out that a win tonight vaults Florida back into the playoff mix so expect them to play like it. The Caps, meanwhile, still have a 14-point lead for home-ice advantage. Let’s just say the motivations tonight are a little mismatched.
Expect Jose Theodore back in goal. That would be two starts in a row and our first pretty good indication since the Olympic break ended that the No. 1 goalie spot in the playoffs has been decided for sure. Semyon Varlamov last played on Friday against Tampa Bay.
