Florida: 24-16-11 (59PTS)
Washington: 27-21-4 (58PTS)
Season Series: 2-1-0
Game Time: 7:00 PM EST
Television: Fox Sports Florida, Comcast Sports Net
Radio: 560 WQAM
The battle for the Southeast Division continues tonight as the Panthers take on the Capitals in Washington tonight. The teams are once again only a point apart in the standings and the winner of tonight’s game will hold the lead in the division tomorrow and the loser will be sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have won the last two meetings, but the home team has taken every game so far in the season series. The Panthers are still without starting goaltender Jose Theodore and several forwards while the Caps are missing Nicklas Backstrom and a few others. Caps forward Brooks Laich was expected to be out with a knee injury, but skated this morning and will be a game-time decision.
More from our Washington cohorts at Japers’ Rink.
Panthers vs Capitals coverage at SB Nation.
SB Nation Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
Stephen Weiss had the game winner and Scott Clemmensen the win as the Cats beat the Caps 4-2 last Wednesday in Sunrise.
Last game
Martin St. Louis had the hat trick for his 900th game and the Lightning won the season series against the Panthers for the first time since the 2003-2004 season.
Lineup
No lineup changes are expected today.
Injuries
- F Jack Skille (shoulder), 1/22, two weeks
- F Marco Sturm (lower body), 2/2, unknown
- F Scottie Upshall (core), 2/1, 6 to 8 weeks
- G Jacob Markstrom (knee), 1/7, 4 to 6 weeks
- D Ed Jovanovski (hand), 1/16, week to week
- D Dmitry Kulikov (knee), 1/21, 6 to 8 weeks
- G Jose Theodore (knee), 2/1,day to day
Possible Scratches
- None /
Starting goaltenders:
Scott Clemmensen is expected to start opposite former Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Bergenheim-Goc-Samuelsson
- Matthias-Madden-Kopecky
- Bradley-Santorelli-Barch
Defense
- Campbell-Gudbranson
- Garrison-Weaver
- Strachan-Ellerby