Panthers Look to Bounce Back in D.C. After Rough Night in Raleigh
It’s a busy day at Capital One Arena - and not just because of hockey. Before the Florida Panthers and Washington Capitals drop the puck tonight, the Georgetown Hoyas hosted UConn in a men’s basketball matinee.
That kind of double-duty isn't new for this building, and it’s something NHL teams across the league have learned to navigate. From Raleigh to New York to L.A., sharing space with college hoops or NBA squads is just part of the grind.
For the Panthers, it meant a bit of a detour. With the Capitals opting for their usual morning skate at the team’s training facility, Florida - which typically uses the home arena for its pregame prep when on the road - had to pivot. The Panthers’ scratches looking to get some ice time were rerouted across the river to Arlington, Virginia.
The real focus, though, is what happens tonight when the puck drops. Florida is looking to shake off the sting of Friday’s 9-1 loss in Raleigh, a game that got away early and never came back. Despite that blowout, the Panthers aren’t expected to make major changes to the lineup - outside of a switch in net.
Panthers’ Netminding Gets a Shake-Up
Daniil Tarasov is expected to get the start in goal for Florida - his first appearance of this road trip. He’s coming off a solid showing back on January 4 against Colorado, and the Panthers are hoping he can bring some stability between the pipes tonight.
Across the ice, Washington will counter with Logan Thompson in goal.
Injury Watch: Tkachuk Still Out, Marchand Missing
Florida will be without several key pieces once again. Matthew Tkachuk was on the ice for the team’s scratch skate, which is a strong indicator he won’t be suiting up tonight. Brad Marchand didn’t skate at all and remains sidelined with a lower-body injury.
Former Panthers prospect Justin Sourdif will also miss his third straight game.
Panthers vs. Capitals: Round Three
This is the third meeting of the season between these two teams, and so far, Florida has had the upper hand. The Panthers took both previous matchups, including a 5-3 win in D.C. back on December 29. But Washington still holds the edge in the all-time regular season series, leading 70-48-14 with nine ties.
The Capitals enter the night as slight favorites, listed at -145 on the money line. Florida, at +125, offers some value for bettors who think the Cats can bounce back strong.
Projected Lineups
Florida Panthers (24-19-3)
Forwards:
- Eetu Luostarinen - Anton Lundell - Sam Reinhart
- Carter Verhaeghe - Sam Bennett - A.J. Greer
- Sandis Vilmanis - Evan Rodrigues - Mackie Samoskevich
- Jesper Boqvist - Cole Schwindt - Luke Kunin
Defense:
- Gus Forsling - Aaron Ekblad
- Niko Mikkola - Uvis Balinskis
- Donovan Sebrango - Jeff Petry
Goaltenders:
- Starter: Daniil Tarasov
- Backup: Sergei Bobrovsky
Scratches: Toby Bjornfot, Noah Gregor, Jack Studnicka
Injured: Brad Marchand (lower body), Seth Jones (upper body), Sasha Barkov (knee), Matthew Tkachuk (lower body), Tomas Nosek (knee), Dmitry Kulikov (shoulder), Jonah Gadjovich (upper body)
Washington Capitals (24-18-6)
Forwards:
- Alex Ovechkin - Dylan Strome - Ethen Frank
- Aliaksei Protas - Connor McMichael - Ryan Leonard
- Brandon Duhaime - Nic Dowd - Anthony Beauvillier
- Ivan Miroshnichenko - Hendrix Lapierre - Brett Leason
Defense:
- Martin Fehervary - John Carlson
- Jakob Chychrun - Matt Roy
- Rasmus Sandin - Trevor van Riemsdyk
Goaltenders:
- Starter: Logan Thompson
- Backup: Charlie Lindgren
How to Watch
Tonight’s game is back on local television for Panthers fans and also available on NHL Network. Streaming options include Panthers+ for local viewers and ESPN+ for national coverage. Radio broadcasts will be available on WQAM, WBZT 1230-AM (Palm Beach), WCTH 100.3-FM (Florida Keys), and SiriusXM.
Looking Ahead
After tonight, the Panthers return home for a Monday matchup against the San Jose Sharks. But first, they’ll look to right the ship in Washington and avoid back-to-back losses on this road swing. With a few key names still out and a fresh face in net, Florida will need a team-wide effort to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff race.