FLORIDA PANTHERS NOTES:
BAPTIST HEALTH INJURY REPORT
– D Aaron Ekblad | Games Missed: 11
– D Brandon Montour | Games Missed: 11
– F Jonah Gadjovich | Games Missed: 9
– F Sam Bennett | Games Missed: 3
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
– Nov. 7: F Jonah Gadjovich loaned to Charlotte (AHL) on conditioning assignment
PANTHERS vs. CAPITALS
ALL-TIME vs. WSH: 58-56-9-11
ALL-TIME HOME vs. WSH: 32-24-4-7
2022-23 vs. WSH: 3-0-0
CATS STATS
– Aleksander Barkov has amassed 24 points (8-16-24) over 21 career regular season games vs. WSH. – Sam Reinhart has recorded 11 goals and 20 points (11-9-20) in 28 career matchups against the Capitals. – Matthew Tkachuk has posted 11 points (2-9-11) in 12 outings against Washington. – Carter Verhaeghe has produced seven points (4-3-7) in seven career regular season games against WSH. – Following games played Nov. 6, Florida’s 28.0 shots against per game ranked fifth-least among NHL clubs.
COMEBACK CATS
The Panthers burst out to a 3-0 lead Nov. 6 vs. CBJ before falling behind 4-3 in the third period. Nick Cousins tallied his second third-period goal of the season at 19:03 of the third period, before Carter Verhaeghe scored in the extra frame to earn the Panthers first overtime win of the campaign. With the win, the Cats extended their home win streak to three games.
CATS AND CAPS
The Panthers and Capitals are slated to face off for the first time in 2023-24. Florida swept their three-game season series over Washington in 2022-23, scoring at least four goals (15 total) in each game while surrendering more than two goals just once. The Panthers have won each of their past four regular-season matchups against Washington, outscoring the Capitals 20-11. Over their past 15 matchups, the Cats own an 11-3-1 record over their former Southeast Division Rival. Aleksander Barkov (2-4-6) and Matthew Tkachuk (1-5-6) each led Florida with six points over their three games against the Capitals last season, while Sam Reinhart (3-1-4) and Carter Verhaeghe (3-2-5) each led the team with three total goals.
FAMILIAR FOE
Tonight, will be a rematch of the two clubs’ meeting in the 2022 First Round. In that series, Florida defeated Washington four games to two, representing the Panthers first playoff series win since the 1996 Eastern Conference Final vs. PIT. Carter Verhaeghe led all skaters in the series with 12 points (6-6-12), the most goals and points in one playoff series in franchise history. His five points (2-3-5) in Game 5 vs. WSH remain the most points in one playoff game in club history, and he scored the game-winning goal in each of the final three games of the series. His Game 6 OT winner represented the first series-clinching overtime playoff goal in franchise history.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS NOTES:
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Re-assigned forward Alexander Suzdalev from AHL Hershey to Mora IK (Sweden-2), 11/7
INJURIES/ILLNESSES
Nicklas Backstrom: 11/2-11/4 (2 games)
Sonny Milano: 10/29 (1 game)
Nic Dowd: 10/18-11/4 (8 games)
Charlie Lindgren: 10/16-10/27 (6 games)
Max Pacioretty: 10/13-11/4 (10 games)
Joel Edmundson: 10/13-11/4 (10 games)
Man Games Lost: 37
TONIGHT’S GAME
The Capitals host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday at Capital One Arena for the first of three meetings between the teams this season. Wednesday marks the fifth and final game of a five-game homestand (Oct. 27-Nov. 8; 3-1-0), which is tied for Washington’s longest homestand of the season (also Jan.3-Jan. 13). The Capitals are 67-46-9-12 all-time vs. Florida and are 36-19-5-7 all-time against the Panthers at home. Alex Ovechkin has recorded 88 points (43g, 45a) in 69 career games vs. Florida. Ovechkin ranks first all-time in career goals, assists and points against the Panthers.
TOP CAPS FACTS
Streaking – The Capitals are 4-1-0 in their last five games and are 3-1-0 through the first four games of their five-game homestand. – Since defeating the New Jersey Devils 6-4 on Oct. 25, Washington’s .800 point percentage ranks tied for fifth in the NHL (through games played Nov. 6). – The Capitals have allowed 11 goals against during the five-game stretch, which is tied for the sixth fewest in the NHL since Oct. 25.
Penalty Skill
– After starting the season 15-for-22 (68.2 percent) on the penalty kill, the Capitals have killed off 12 straight opposing power-play opportunities over their last five games. – On Nov. 4 vs. Columbus, Washington held the Blue Jackets without a power-play goal on four opportunities, including two opportunities in the final 10 minutes of regulation with the Capitals holding a one-goal lead. The Capitals would go on to defeat Columbus 2-1, marking their fourth win in their last five games (4-1-0). – This season, the Capitals have allowed 51 shots against while shorthanded, the sixth-lowest total in the NHL (per Natural Stat Trick). – Washington ranked 31st in the NHL in penalty-kill percentage following their fifth game of the season on Oct. 24, but ranked tied for 14th in the category (79.4 percent) through games played Nov. 6.
Home Sweet Home
– The Capitals defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Nov. 4 at Capital One Arena, marking the franchise’s 1,000th regular season home win. – The Capitals are the 15th team in NHL history to win 1,000 home games and the first team to do so that entered the NHL in 1974 or later. – Washington has an all-time home record of 1,000-655-153-96 (.591 point percentage) and reached the 1,000-win mark in their 1,904th home game. Washington required the 10th-fewest games to reach 1,000 home wins in NHL history. – The Capitals have earned 554 wins at Capital One Arena (formerly Verizon Center and MCI Center), 444 wins at Capital Centre, one win at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium (2018 Stadium Series) and one win at Nationals Park (2015 Winter Classic). – The combined attendance for the Capitals’ 1,000 home wins exceeds 15 million.
