Game #43 Preview: Washington Capitals at Florida Panthers

Where: BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, FL

When:  January 11, 2011, 7:30 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 8-11-3-0

Caps Game 43 Record: 15-15-5-0

All-Time vs. FLA: 46-33-9-6

All-Time at FLA: 22-19-4-1

Last Season vs. FLA 6-0-0

Last Meeting: 1/8/11, WAS 3 FLA 2

This Year:

WAS Record: 24-12-6

Standings Points: 54

Division Rank: 2nd

Conference Rank: 5th

Last Game: 1/8/11, WAS 3 FLA 2

Streak: Win 1

FLA Record: 18-20-2

Standings Points: 38

Division Rank: 5th

Conference Rank: 11th    

Last Game: 1/8/11, FLA 2 WAS 3

Streak: Loss 3

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 2: 25 CHIMERA, 85 PERRAULT, 14 FEHR

Forward Line 3: 21 LAICH, 90 JOHANSSON, 83 BEAGLE

Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 26 HENDRICKS, 39 STECKEL

Defense Pair 1: 52 GREEN, 23 HANNAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 3 POTI

Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Back-up Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Florida

Forward Line 1: 21 HIGGINS, 9 WEISS, 67 FROLIK

Forward Line 2: 10 BOOTH, 13 SANTORELLI, 85 OLESZ

Forward Line 3: 61 STILLMAN, 19 REASONER, 14 DVORAK

Forward Line 4: 26 BERNIER, 18 MATTHIAS, 16 HORDICHUK

Defense Pair 1: 6 WIDEMAN, 52 GARRISON

Defense Pair 2: 24 MCCABE, 43 WEAVER

Defense Pair 3: 5 ALLEN, 7 KULIKOV

Goalie: 29 VOKOUN

Back-up Goalie: 30 CLEMMENSEN

Injuries:

Washington – 15 GORDON (lower body) IR, 17 KING (undisclosed) IR, 10 BRADLEY (broken finger) IR, 28 SEMIN (thigh) DTD

Florida – 36 CULLEN (ruptured Achilles tendon) IR, 12 BITZ (lower body) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 4 points to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals are headed for a two day tour of Florida with back-to-back games against the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The last game saw the Caps beat the Panthers in a one goal game. The Capitals are still struggling on the power play but got goals from two of their big guns, Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green. Alexander Semin was injured in the game and did not make the trip to Florida. Boyd Gordon did make the trip and may see action at some point this week. I expect the rematch with the Panthers to go about the same as the game on Saturday with both teams grinding and the game won or lost in the corner battles. The Washington penalty kill is playing stellar hockey and have not allowed a goal in 27 shorthanded opportunities. Look for more of the same in this one with the power play getting back in gear.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 FLA 1

Official Preview