Panthers at Capitals
The Washington Capitals will look to thwart their second four-game losing skid of the season when they open a home-and-home set with the visiting Florida Panthers on Saturday. Washington, which began the campaign with four straight setbacks (0-3-1), fell to Pittsburgh for the second time in five days with a 5-2 loss on Thursday. Captain Alex Ovechkin scored and has secured points in his last three contests, but coach Adam Oates' club was undone by three power-play goals against the Penguins.
The Panthers are trending in the other direction as they improved to 3-0-1 in their last four following a 3-2 shootout victory over Philadelphia on Thursday. Florida will wrap up its four-game road trip in the nation's capital against Washington, which were victorious in four of the six meetings in 2011-12. The Capitals won the last encounter with a 4-2 decision on April 5, although the Panthers backed into a playoff berth mere moments after the loss.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FSFL (Florida), CSMA (Washington)
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (4-5-1): Rookie Jonathan Huberdeau wasn't shy about admitting that he had some jitters prior to his shootout goal on Thursday. "I was really nervous. When I got out there, I was shaking a little bit but when you're into it, you just think to just score - I wasn't nervous after I got the puck," Huberdeau told Fox Sports Florida. Jose Theodore stopped 30 shots for his third straight win, but is just 7-10-1 in his career versus his former team.
ABOUT THE CAPITALS (2-8-1): Ovechkin has routinely flustered Florida, collecting four goals and an assist last season and 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 43 career games. Like his team, Michal Neuvirth continues to struggle in 2013. Neuvirth yielded two goals on 11 shots on Thursday before being pulled in favor of Braden Holtby, who promptly allowed three goals.
OVERTIME
1. Washington's porous defense has contributed mightily to its troubles. The Capitals have permitted 41 goals, which is tied with Buffalo for the most in the NHL.
2. Panthers C Peter Mueller was held off the scoresheet for the second straight game - although he was successful in the shootout. Mueller had scored a goal in four consecutive contests prior to his recent cold stretch.
3. Florida traded D Keaton Ellerby to Los Angeles for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft on Friday. Ellerby has yet to record a point in nine games this season.