:caps: @ :cats: Preview
CAPITALS (13-11-1) at PANTHERS (14-8-4)
TV: CSN-MA, FS-F (HD)
Last 10: Washington 3-7-0; Florida 6-3-1.
Season Series: This is the second of six meetings between the Southeast Division rivals. Washington earned a 3-0 victory against Florida on Oct. 18 at the Verizon Center. Caps goalie Tomas Vokoun stopped all 20 shots he faced for the shutout.
Big Story: Dale Hunter picked up his first win as Capitals coach Saturday night as Brooks Laich scored 12 seconds into overtime to lift Washington to a 3-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators at the Verizon Center. Hunter had lost a pair of 2-1 games after replacing Bruce Boudreau as Capitals coach last Monday after the club dropped six of eight contests.
"We had lots of scoring chances throughout the whole game," Hunter said after the victory. "They're forechecking hard, and it's forechecking with three guys on the forecheck plus the [defense], so it's a chemistry thing. It's a pulley system; one guy goes in, the other one goes in, then the other one has to come out and the other one goes in.
"They're getting it, and that's why we got some great opportunities tonight. We should have scored more, but good goalie on the other side and missing the net a few times. As long as you get your chances, that's what I worry about."
Who's Hot: Caps center Nicklas Backstrom has scored in two of the last three games. … Panthers forward Tomas Fleischmann tallied his 12th goal of the season Saturday night. He has 3 goals and 2 assists in his last five games.
Injury Report: For the Caps, Alexander Semin (upper body), Mike Green (groin) and Roman Hamrlik (lower body) are day-to-day. Jay Beagle (concussion-like symptoms) and Tom Poti (groin) are out. … Mikael Samuelsson (abdomen) is questionable for the Panthers, while Matt Bradley (upper body), Scottie Upshall (hip) and Marcel Goc (upper body) are out.
Stat Pack: Washington has killed 18 of their opponents' last 19 power plays, climbing from 25th in the NHL to 18th. … Panthers winger Jack Skille tallied his first game-winning goal in 116 NHL games Saturday night.
Puck Drop: "It feels good. It's something you want to get over with right away, hopefully the first game but it ends up being the third. It's one of those things you want to get under your belt and move on." -- Dale Hunter after earning his first win as an NHL head coach on Saturday
Go
GO! :foottap:
CAPITALS (13-11-1) at PANTHERS (14-8-4)
TV: CSN-MA, FS-F (HD)
Last 10: Washington 3-7-0; Florida 6-3-1.
Season Series: This is the second of six meetings between the Southeast Division rivals. Washington earned a 3-0 victory against Florida on Oct. 18 at the Verizon Center. Caps goalie Tomas Vokoun stopped all 20 shots he faced for the shutout.
Big Story: Dale Hunter picked up his first win as Capitals coach Saturday night as Brooks Laich scored 12 seconds into overtime to lift Washington to a 3-2 victory against the Ottawa Senators at the Verizon Center. Hunter had lost a pair of 2-1 games after replacing Bruce Boudreau as Capitals coach last Monday after the club dropped six of eight contests.
"We had lots of scoring chances throughout the whole game," Hunter said after the victory. "They're forechecking hard, and it's forechecking with three guys on the forecheck plus the [defense], so it's a chemistry thing. It's a pulley system; one guy goes in, the other one goes in, then the other one has to come out and the other one goes in.
"They're getting it, and that's why we got some great opportunities tonight. We should have scored more, but good goalie on the other side and missing the net a few times. As long as you get your chances, that's what I worry about."
Who's Hot: Caps center Nicklas Backstrom has scored in two of the last three games. … Panthers forward Tomas Fleischmann tallied his 12th goal of the season Saturday night. He has 3 goals and 2 assists in his last five games.
Injury Report: For the Caps, Alexander Semin (upper body), Mike Green (groin) and Roman Hamrlik (lower body) are day-to-day. Jay Beagle (concussion-like symptoms) and Tom Poti (groin) are out. … Mikael Samuelsson (abdomen) is questionable for the Panthers, while Matt Bradley (upper body), Scottie Upshall (hip) and Marcel Goc (upper body) are out.
Stat Pack: Washington has killed 18 of their opponents' last 19 power plays, climbing from 25th in the NHL to 18th. … Panthers winger Jack Skille tallied his first game-winning goal in 116 NHL games Saturday night.
Puck Drop: "It feels good. It's something you want to get over with right away, hopefully the first game but it ends up being the third. It's one of those things you want to get under your belt and move on." -- Dale Hunter after earning his first win as an NHL head coach on Saturday
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