Gameday Preview: Caps vs Panthers

Who: Washington Capitals vs Florida Panthers
Where: Verizon Center
When: Saturday, January 19, 7:00 pm

Broadcast Info: CSN, 3WT Radio; FSN Florida, 790 the Ticket; HDNet

Media Notes:
Caps' Site
NHL.com
Washington Post
Washington Times

We know the story...the Panthers own the Caps, have for years, blah blah blah. We also know that the Panthers are mired in an injury bug that makes the Caps' recent troubles look like mosquito bites and paper cuts. And we know the game Florida plays - think the Devils in their heyday or the Wild or Lightning now. Then add some sedatives, a shot of Nyquil and a fluffy pillow for the full effect.

Fourteen of the twenty games between Washington and Florida since the lockout have been one-goal games, including all four games this year. Three of them this year have been 2-1 finals. And last night the Panthers snapped a three game losing streak with, yup, you guessed it, a 2-1 win over the Devils.

Aw...it's like they've passed the torch.

None of that, however, should surpass the fact that this is bizarrely enough one of the most important games of the season for the Caps - and don't think the Caps themselves don't know it. With a win they'll take away 8 of 10 points on this crucial homestand and head into a demoralized Pittsburgh with their heads held high. They'll also take away an equally important two points from their division rivals and jump back up into eleventh place in the conference, third in the division. Yeah, it's important.

Of course, it's that time of year...they're all big games, right? Here's to a Caps win as they start to get the monkey off their backs known as the Florida Panthers.