Capitals 4 - 5 Panthers
Final
  for this game

Panthers host Caps in Southeast showdown

Dec 5, 2011 - 3:46 PM (Sports Network) - The Florida Panthers will try to pad their lead atop the Southeast Division standings when they take on the rival Washington Capitals tonight from BankAtlantic Center.

The Panthers are five points (32 pts) ahead of Washington in the division standings and were shut out by the Capitals, 3-0, in the first meeting of the season on Oct. 18 at the Verizon Center. Caps goaltender Tomas Vokoun stopped 20 shots to pick up his first shutout of the season, while Jacob Markstrom made 29 saves in his first NHL start.

Washington has won 10 of the last 13 meetings with Florida, but the teams have split the last 16 meetings in Sunrise, FL. Monday's contest between the two division foes is the second of six encounters this season.

Florida has won two of three and five of its last eight games overall (5-2-1), including Saturday's 5-3 triumph behind Tomas Fleischmann's goal and two assists. Stephen Weiss, Marco Sturm, Jack Skille and Dmitry Kulikov also scored for the Panthers, who rallied from a 2-1 deficit and went 2-2-0 on a four-game road trip.

"We're getting better and better as the season's coming along," Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell said.

Scott Clemmensen made 23 saves in the win. After hosting Washington, the Panthers will return to the road for three games against the Bruins, Sabres and Rangers. Florida is 5-2-4 as the host and 4-2-3 in division play. It also sports a 9-6-0 ledger as the guest.

Fleischmann has notched at least one point in 16 of his last 20 games. Weiss has at least three points in four of his last 10 contests.

Washington is coming off the first win under new head coach Dale Hunter, who was brought in last Monday after the team fired head coach Bruce Boudreau. Hunter played in Washington from 1987-99 and also served as team captain at the end of his tenure.

The Capitals were able to halt a four-game losing streak and win for the third time in their last 11 games with Saturday's 3-2 overtime triumph versus the Ottawa Senators. Brooks Laich scored 12 seconds into overtime on a nice feed from Jason Chimera, while Nicklas Backstrom and Troy Brouwer also scored for the Capitals.

"Jason makes a good play," said Laich. "I was able to get one."

Michal Neuvirth made 32 saves in the win, his first since Nov. 5. He had been winless in five straight appearances in the crease. Washington went 1-2-0 on a three-game homestand and will play back-to-back road games against the Panthers and Senators. It has dropped four in a row as the guest and is 4-7-0 away from the nation's capital, but owns a solid 5-1-0 mark in division play.

Laich and captain Alex Ovechkin played in career game No. 500. In injury news for the Capitals, defenseman Roman Hamrlik (lower body) and right wing Alexander Semin (shoulder) are both listed as questionable for Monday.






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