Florida: 3-1-0 (6PTS)
Washington: 4-0-0 (8PTS)
Season Series: 0-0-0
Game Time: 7:00 PM EDT
Television: Fox Sports Florida, Comcast SportsNet DC
Radio: 560 WQAM
The Cats meet the Caps for the first of six games this season. The Panthers will be coming off of their win in Tampa Bay’s home opener, while the Capitals have been resting a few days after getting off to great start, winning their first four games. Former Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun will face his former team for the first time since leaving this summer to sign with Washington while current Panthers goaltender Jose Theodore may face the Capitals for the first time since leaving Washington two summers ago. There are a few other familiar faces in the lineups for both teams. Panthers forward Matt Bradley will face his former team for the first time since leaving in the summer. Former Panther Dennis Wideman, traded at last season’s deadline, will face the Panthers for only the second time since the trade. And former Capital Tomas Fleischmann will play his second game against Washington since being traded to the Avalanche in the middle of last season.
More from our Washington cohorts at Japers’ Rink.
Panthers vs Capitals coverage coverage at SB Nation.
TSN Preview.
LBC Game Thread will open 30 minutes prior to puck drop.
News and Notes
Last meeting
The Panthers beat the Capitals 1-0 in their last game of last season. Tomas Vokoun collected a shutout in his final appearance for the Panthers before leaving in the summer to sign with the Capitals. Former Panther forward and current Rampage forward Bill Thomas had the lone goal in the win.
Last game
The Panthers spoiled a second home opener when they beat the Lightning 7-4 last night. The game featured six special teams goals by the Cats: five power play goals and a shorthanded goal by Sean Bergenheim. The game was even for the first half, but the Panthers slowly took control and silenced the crowd in the third.
Lineup
There have been no lineup changes since the first game, but there is still chatter that goaltender Jacob Markstrom and defenseman Keaton Ellerby will be seeing playing time soon.
Injuries
- G Scott Clemmensen (knee), 9/26, 3-8 weeks
- F Mike Santorelli (shoulder), 9/27, 2 weeks
Healthy Scratches
- D Keaton Ellerby?
Starting goaltenders:
Coach Dineen has said he will announce the starter at 5:45 PM today, but Jacob Markstrom is expected to start for the Panthers. Tomas Vokoun will start for the Capitals.
Lines
Forwards
- Fleischmann-Weiss-Versteeg
- Booth-Kopecky-Upshall
- Bergenheim-Goc-Skille
- Bradley-Matthias-Carter
Defense
- Campbell-Garrison
- Jovanovski-Gudbranson
- Kulikov-Weaver
UPDATE (5:47PM): Harvey Fialkov says Markstrom is in. No word on Ellerby.
UPDATE (6:06PM): Dineen is playing games. He won’t confirm Markstrom is in, though by all appearances this is the case. Ellerby is also apparently in, but no word on who is sitting.