Washington Capitals at Florida Panthers - Game 27 Preview
by John Beatty on Dec 5, 2011 3:02 PM EST
in Florida Panthers Game Previews: '11-12
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PrintFlorida: 14-8-4 (32PTS)
Washington: 13-11-1 (27PTS)
Season Series: 0-1-0
Game Time: 7:30 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, Comcast Sports Net
Radio: 560 WQAM
The Panthers make a brief stop at home in the middle of road trips tonight to host the Washington Capitals. To pretty much everyone's surprise, the Panthers hold a five-point lead for the Southeast Division on the struggling Capitals. Tonight is an opportunity for the Cats to add two points to that lead and potentially move up in the Eastern Conference standings. The Panthers are one point behind the Boston Bruins and four behind the Conference-leading Pittsburgh Penguins. Those teams play each other tonight. It was also hoped that tonight would be a chance to see former Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun in action, but the Capitals have announced that Michal Neuvirth will be starting tonight's game.
More from our Washington cohorts at Japers' Rink.
Capitals vs Panthers coverage at SB Nation.
TSN Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
The Capitals beat the Panthers 3-0 at Verizon Center and Tomas Vokoun got his first win and shutout against his former team. The loss was the first of back-to-back 3-0 losses for the Panthers, which would be followed by Dale Tallon trading David Booth and Steven Reinprecht to the Canucks for Mikael Samuelsson and Marco Sturm. Samuelsson has yet to play for the Cats, but is expected to play in the next week or two.
Last game
The Panthers win again in San Jose, a city where they have been successful, beating the Sharks 5-3 in Scott Clemmensen's second start of the season. For their efforts, Todd McClellan's team got a bag skate and the Panthers held their five point division lead on the Capitals.
Lineup
No lineup changes have been announced for the Panthers, though both Jose Theodore and Mark Cullen missed an optional team skate.
Injuries
- F Mikael Samuelsson (rehab from abdominal surgery), 10/24, day to day
- F Scottie Upshall (hip), 11/10, 6 to 8 weeks
- F Matt Bradley (undisclosed), 11/16, 1 week
- F Marcel Goc (undisclosed head injury), 11/16, day to day
Healthy Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby
- F Evgenii Dadonov or F Mark Cullen
Starting goaltenders:
Michal Neuvirth will start for the Capitals. The Panthers' goalie will be a game-time decision, but it is expected that Scott Clemmensen will start. Clemmensen is 2-6-0-1 against the Caps with a 3.82 GAA and .861 save percentage. Theodore is 7-8-1-0 with a 2.52 GAA and .901 save percentage. Neuvirth is 2-1-1 against Florida with a 2.69 GAA and .915 save percentage.
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Kopecky-Santorelli-Sturm
- Bergenheim-Matthias-Skille
- Dadonov-Kennedy-Kearns
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski-Gudbranson
- Kulikov-Weaver
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Panthers have to overcome the dreaded first home back from a long road trip syndrome tonight and don’t even get the benefit of actual home stand. too bad this one has to be against the Caps. If I was a betting man I’d put money on Washington but I’m broke so I won’t. Hopefully, the Panthers will use the possible 7 point cushion for extra motivation tonight. It’s still early in the season but this is a pretty big game. The four games this week should tell us just how good the Panthers really are.
THIS ^
I hereby predict Captain Mike Weaver #43 will score 6G 20A -RCR 0G8A 11/21
Be impeccable with your word, don't take anything personally, don't make assumptions, always do your best...
by RPC on Dec 5, 2011 4:45 PM EST up reply actions
Make sure to check out the comments. They’re mighty fine, in a good way.
Steve Diaz
Twitter - @sdiaz6215
While you’re there, have a look at the front page. Pittsburgh, Boston, Toronto and the Rangers are all playing tonight, but what’s the featured game? Capitals-Panthers.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Beast.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Dec 5, 2011 5:03 PM EST up reply actions
Dont look now my Florida friends… THN is bashing us in the latest article on realignment.
Also, was thinking that the NHL should consider moving Nasville into the proposed divsion, evens out the 15 and 15 thing AND puts 3 teams in the division close to one another…. Plus the Canadian componant means more Panther games for me!!!
Is THN even relevant any more? It seems every other article in recent months has either been a slam on Southern clubs or a Leafs pep rally.
I go there so rarely now that I can’t say it’s missed.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Dec 5, 2011 5:02 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
THN has been irrelevant for Panther fans for years. So has the Hockey News, I’ve had several subscriptions and every time I let them lapse because of the lack of coverage of the Panthers in any legitimate manner.
Seeing Red since 1994.
Plus I think the Toronto based THN is going to get sick of playing our Panthers if this realignment goes as it says.
WOW… just realized the top playoff series on the CBC here in the years to come will be: Game 1: TOR/OTT/MTL at FLA
by saskpantherfan on Dec 5, 2011 5:23 PM EST up reply actions
We’re talking about The Hockey News (THN), right?
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Dec 5, 2011 5:35 PM EST up reply actions
I agree. I have the subscription, which seems alot more unbiased than some of the articles on the website. Though it is a dream when they actually write more than 3 paragraphs on the Panthers. (Though soon they will have no choice :D ) Terrible journalism as far as I am concerned to be going about saying that “Team A is a darkhorse to move to Hamilton/Markham/Quebec/Saskatoon” (OK Saskatoon doesnt get suggested ever, but some days I am surprised that the “Make it 15” Canadian thinkers are not saying it…. (And I am Canadian, and I dont agree with alot of these fools)
Truth is the order of concern for the league is: PHX, NYI, CBJ…. DAL has serious attendance issues, FLA does fine by most standards. I was shocked he said the Panthers attendance was bad. You guys support our Panthers pretty good down there I think.
Truth is the order of concern for the league is: PHX, NYI, CBJ…. DAL has serious attendance issues, FLA does fine by most standards. I was shocked he said the Panthers attendance was bad. You guys support our Panthers pretty good down there I think.
It’s lack of interest from casual fans based on poor performance plus the gate being propped up so obviously by away fans on certain games plus a bit of wishful thinking that leads to this idea. And, FTR, the Panthers are far from the only team who exhibits or takes advantage of the away fan syndrome. Part of the reason so many clubs want the home-and-home against every team back is because teams like the Red Wings, Rangers and Habs are a guaranteed draw pretty much everywhere and they want that one game every year. It’s just a little more obvious here than in most places when the Habs are in town.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
One thing I really am not liking about the realignment thing is the elimination of the Eastern/Western Conference. I would liek it more if they brought back the Adams/Patrick division titles for one reason: The Prince of Wales Trophy. That trophy is one cool trophy.
However the whole division/conference/grouping thingy, where the 1st two rounds are divisonal and then the final four are reseeded is pretty forward thinking and I am not totally opposed to it. Though, it may have been possible last years Finals would have been VAN/SJ instead… I dont know… Kind of like having East/West still….
Watch out for UFO's
According to the AHL’s website: Markstrom recalled today
Rumor earlier was Theodore is sick. Looks like it was correct.
"We don't need the designated goon. Those fights aren't even fun to watch." -Mike Milbury
Litter Box Cats - Your Panthers Colossus.
Goldie on NHL Network in Ten
Here’s the link: http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/11100/1/watch-nhl-network.html
The Ghost of David Nemirovsky
BIG thx for the link, PF!
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
by Donny Rivette on Dec 5, 2011 6:21 PM EST up reply actions
No prob! I got it off the twitternets
The Ghost of David Nemirovsky
by panthersfan27 on Dec 5, 2011 6:22 PM EST up reply actions
Gotta be Clemmer tonight; throwing Marky to the wolves after a scrambled travel schedule would be dicey at best.
Litter Box Cats - Your tarp-free Florida Panthers Colossus
I’ll be at the game tonight with dismal cell service. Hope to be able to check in between periods.
Go Cats!
The artist formerly known as L'Mysterioso
Planning on it. :)
The artist formerly known as L'Mysterioso
by Spencer-IV on Dec 5, 2011 7:14 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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