Caps @ Panthers 2-15-2008 Preview

Washington Capitals (27-31; 60 points; 3rd Southeast Division, 11th Eastern Conference, 22nd Overall) @ Florida Panthers (26-33; 58 points; 4th Southeast Division, 13th Eastern Conference, 27th Overall):
Caps Game #59, Road Game #30, NHL Game #876

BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, FL, 7:38 pm. Washington TV: Comcast Sportsnet Mid-Atlantic. Radio: WWWT 1500-AM, 107.7-FM. Florida TV: Fox SportsNet Florida. Radio: WAXY 790-AM. National TV: NHL Network carrying the Fox SportsNet Florida feed. NHL Center Ice: None.

Tonight the Caps start a set of back-to-back games in Florida when they face the Panthers in Sunrise. The Panthers are two points back of the Caps and Thrashers who are tied for second place in the Southeast Division after Carolina's win over the Penguin Scum last night. The Panthers can be forgiven for being a little distracted after Richard Zednik's gruesome injury earlier this week. The Panthers have lost three of their last four games and two in row after Wednesday's overtime loss at home to Montreal.

What The Natives Are Saying:

(Com)Post. Times. Caps.com.

Neutral Views:

NHL.com AP Wire.

Open Source Intelligence:

Miami Herald: scoring snag, improving.

What Do I Expect Tonight?:

The Caps have lost three games in a row in the Southeast Division and now face the one team in the one building that has given them the most trouble in recent years. The Panthers are not an offensive minded club even with Zednik in the lineup and the Caps have been having trouble winning the low scoring games. The Panthers have a Top 5 Power Play unit and once again, the Caps will need to stay out of the Penalty Box. The Caps also need to end this streak of win one, lose one, win one, lose one though another loss tonight will allow people to continue to harp on how the team hasn't lost consecutive games in regulation under Bruce Boudreau.

Caps Nut Official Prediction:

Caps 1
Panthers 3
Winner by Peltonen

(29-28 on the season)