Washington Capitals at Florida Panthers
Friday, February 15th, 2008, 7:30 PM
BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida
TV:CSN
Last Meeting: 1/19/2008, Caps win 5-3

About the Opponent

Florida Panthers: 26-27-6, 58 points, 4th in the Southeast Division, 13th in the Eastern Conference

Team Leaders
Goals: Olli Jokinen (29)
Assists: tie - Olli Jokinen and Nathan Horton (29)
Points: Olli Jokinen (58)
Plus/Minus: tie - Jassen Cullimore, Nathan Horton and David Booth (+10)
Penalty Minutes: Ruslan Salei (69)
Fights: Tanner Glass (6)

Random Panthers Fact
In the franchise’s early days, Florida and its fans had an infatuation with rats that started before their home opener in the 1995-96 season when Scott Mellanby “one-timed” a rat that had invaded the team’s dressing room, killing it in the process.  Mellanby scored two goals in the ensuing game, a feat which was dubbed a “rat trick” by John Vanbiesbrouck. Soon fan were brining rubber rats to the rink and throwing them on the ice in support of their team. The per-game rat counted reached as high as 2,000 in the playoffs. Full story.

Random Panthers Statistic
The Panthers’ 33.1 shots allowed per game are the most in the NHL this season.

Keys to the Game

Washington
Secondary scoring. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Viktor Kozlov and Mike Green can’t do it all.

Florida
Contain Ovechkin and Green. With their speed and puck control skills, these two are the ones who can break open a play under just about any circumstances and between the Capitals lack of secondary scoring and the tight defensive game Florida likes to play, they’re the only two the Panthers should have to worry about.

Players to Watch

Washington
The duo of Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischmann. The Capitals desperately need offense from guys who aren’t on the first line and the pressure should be on these two. Each have received two-year extensions, Semin can’t use health as an excuse anymore and Fleischmann should be settled enough to play his best hockey.

Florida
The trio of Jay Bouwmeester, Olli Jokinen and Tomas Vokoun. These guys are carrying the Panthers, and each will need to play well for the team to send the fans in Sunrise home happy.

Around the (Inter)net
Bloggers, along with the Capitals and the Hershey Bears are banding together to benefit Wilson High School, “the District’s only public high school with a varsity hockey team”.

Glen Hanlon has landed a new coaching gig in Finland with Helsinki Jokerit, a prestigious team in Finland’s top league…Rod Brind’Amour is done for the season…More Foppa news.