Although it's been an up and down year for the Washington Capitals, they still have a chance to claim first place int he Southeast division if they can both of their next two games. The first in division game will come tonight as the Caps travel to face the Florida Panthers.
Tonight's game will pit new Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman against his former team for the first time since he was traded to Washington a week ago. He along with new center Jason Arnott have seemed to give Washington a boost in their first two games with their new team.
Goal tender Michal Neuvirth will again start, with Semyon Varlamov on the mend. Although these two have been neck and neck through out most of the season, it seems that Neuvirth is beginning to pull away from Varlamov as the net minder who can start for the Caps come playoff time.
The Caps enter this game trailing by just one point to the Tampa Bay Lighting for the division lead, and will hope to win both games in the state of Florida (tonight's game against the Panthers, then the Lightening) in order to secure sole possession of first place.