Capitals try to end home skid against surging Panthers
Washington closes a homestand without a named starting goalie as Florida arrives winners of four of its last five games despite missing two top forwards.
CapitalsThe Washington Capitals (8-6-0) host the Florida Panthers (9-5-2) on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena. Saturday's Capitals Panthers matinee closes a three-game homestand. Washington has lost two straight at home, but Florida has won four of its last five. Read more: Capitals try to end home skid against surging Panthers
The game also airs on MNMT in the Washington market, on Scripps Sports for Florida viewers and nationally on ESPN+.
Washington lost 5-1 to Minnesota on Nov. 1. The Capitals then blew a 4-0 lead in a 6-5 loss to Dallas on Nov. 3. Florida, meanwhile, has scored five or more goals in three of its last five wins. The Panthers beat Chicago 5-3 on Wednesday, when rookie Sandis Vilmanis had two goals and two assists, per CBS Sports.
The Capitals Panthers series continues twice more this season, including a Black Friday matinee on Nov. 27, according to Washington's team site. Florida swept the three-game season series last year, including a 5-2 road win in January, per CBS Sports.
DraftKings favors Washington at -122 on the moneyline, according to ESPN's odds. The puck line has the Capitals at -1.5 (+195) and the Panthers at +1.5 (-238), with the total at 6.5 (over +100, under -120).
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Goaltending situation unsettled
Neither team had named a starting goalie as of Friday, according to NHL.com. Logan Thompson was pulled during Tuesday's loss to Dallas after allowing four goals on 11 shots. Charlie Lindgren then relieved him and made nine saves.
Washington has carried three goaltenders, Thompson, Lindgren and newly acquired Remi Poirier, since adding Poirier last Sunday, according to RMNB.
Florida will choose between Jacob Markstrom and Akira Schmid. Markstrom made 17 saves in Wednesday's win over Chicago.
Washington is also missing defensemen Rasmus Sandin, who had knee surgery, and Vincent Desharnais, who had abdominal surgery. Both remain on injured reserve. Florida, meanwhile, is without two of its top six forwards, Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, both sidelined by knee injuries. Both could still take part in Saturday's morning skate, according to NHL.com.
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Jenner's two-way value
One steady piece for Washington has been winger Boone Jenner, who has the team's second-most goals with six while taking on heavy defensive assignments. "He just does everything right and it doesn't show up on the score sheet," coach Spencer Carbery said, according to RMNB.
Jenner has also won 54.6 percent of his faceoffs this season, sometimes taking draws for a line centered by rookie Ilya Protas. "He's just so strong in the circle," Carbery said.
Washington begins its first multi-game road trip in more than a month on Monday.
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