Capitals vs. Panthers Preview: April 1, 2019

by Wesley Hunt · April 1, 2019

The Washington Capitals play their last road game of the season tonight in Sunrise against the Florida Panthers. While they are going to the playoffs again, they have not clinched the Metro Division. A win and a regulation loss by the Islanders would clinch it for them, but they have to win tonight. They will be riding the backs of their strong scorers to take this one in Florida.

Washington has 102 points alongside a 47-24-8 record, leading the Metro Division. Saturday in Tampa, Alex Ovechkin scored his fiftieth and fifty-first goals back-to-back, making him the oldest player to reach fifty goals in a season. They have won four straight games and at 24-14-2 have one of the best road records in the league. The Panthers were just recently eliminated from playoff contention with a 35-32-12 record and 82 points. They trail Carolina by 11 points with three games in the season. At this point, they can just delay the Caps from clinching the division but no more.

The Panthers won both games against the Caps this year. Though both of them went the distance. First was a 6-5 shootout win in Washington on October 19. Next was a 5-4 overtime contest, also in Washington. The Caps are noted to be strong on the road, and in their first and only game in Sunrise, look to hold strong to this distinction.