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Capitals seek revenge in meeting with Panthers

Jan 8, 2011 - 3:58 PM (Sports Network) - Based on last season, one would figure that a matchup with the Florida Panthers would be just what the Washington Capitals needed coming off another shutout loss.

The Capitals' offense, though, was shut down the last time it went up against the Panthers and Washington will look to avenge that whitewash this evening at the Verizon Center and extend a seven-game point streak in the process.

Washington was shut out just once last year when it led the league with 313 goals scored, but has already been blanked five times this season. That fifth one came on Tuesday, a 1-0 overtime setback to Tampa Bay, a loss that dropped the Capitals a point behind the Lightning for first place in the Southeast Division.

Semyon Varlamov managed 37 saves, but couldn't come up with No. 38 on Martin St. Louis' goal with 2:06 left in overtime as the Caps had a three-game winning streak end but are still 5-0-2 in their past seven games.

"They are a pretty good team -- they're tough to defend against," said Caps star Alex Ovechkin, who led the club with eight shots.

Washington's loss was also its seventh in its last nine at home, with the club 2-3-4 in that span.

The Capitals outscored the Panthers, 33-15, in sweeping the six-game series in 2009-10, but dropped a 3-0 home decision to Florida on Dec. 9. That victory also halted the Panthers' three-game slide at the Verizon Center.

Ovechkin has just four goals in his last 23 games, but had managed six tallies and five assists over an eight-game point streak versus the Panthers before that run ended in the most recent meeting.

Panthers netminder Tomas Vokoun made 36 saves to shut out the Capitals, but took a 5-3 loss last night to the Hurricanes despite another 30 stops. It was Florida's second straight setback and fourth in six games.

Marty Reasoner and David Booth scored first-period goals, but Florida allowed Carolina to pot the next five goals before Reasoner notched his second of the game late in the third period.

"I think fatigue set in," said Florida head coach Peter DeBoer about the second period. "We started to make some mental errors, took a couple offensive zone penalties and the momentum shifted."

Hoping to avoid losing three in a row for the first time since Nov. 22-26, the Panthers hit the road for a game before returning to Florida for a six-game homestand on Tuesday. They have won five of their last seven as the guest.

Vokoun could earn the start on back-to-back nights given that backup Scott Clemmensen is just 2-4-0 with a 4.00 goals-against average in his career when facing the Caps. Vokoun is 8-12-1 with a 2.58 GAA versus them.

Varlamov, among the league leaders with a 2.09 GAA and .928 save percentage, has split his two career starts versus the Panthers.