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Capitals searching for consistency

Feb 15, 2008 - 1:25 PM Washington (27-25-6) at Florida (26-27-6) 7:30 pm EST

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) - The Washington Capitals need to win with more consistency if they are going to stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

The Capitals look to bounce back from a loss when they visit the Florida Panthers on Friday.

Washington, which has lost two of its last three games to fall to 3-2-1 in February, is currently tied with the Atlanta Thrashers for second place in the Southeast Division - two points behind the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Capitals could have claimed sole possession of second place on Wednesday, but couldn't get past the Thrashers, falling, 3-2, in a shootout.

Alex Ovechkin forced overtime late in the third period with his NHL-leading 48th goal of the season. If the 22-year-old superstar can tally a pair of goals in his next three games, he would reach the 50-goal mark earlier than any player since Buffalo Sabres forward Alex Mogilny during the 1992-93 campaign.

Although Washington is tied for second place in the Southeast with 60 points, it will have to win more often in order to solidify a playoff spot.

That because the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers are currently tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference with 63 points. It is entirely possible that only the division winner will emerge from the mediocre Southeast.

The Panthers are looking to end a two-game slide on Friday after dropping a pair of close games, including a 2-1 overtime setback to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday.

Defenseman Steve Montador scored his fifth goal of the season on the power play at 12:04 of the opening period before Florida was held scoreless over the final two periods.

It was the team's first game since Richard Zednik's gruesome neck injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. The veteran is expected to be released from the hospital this weekend, though he isn't expected back in the lineup anytime soon.