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Key Takeaways
- The Washington Capitals are seeking consistency in their performance as they face the Florida Panthers on Saturday.
- The Capitals have not won back-to-back games since a six-game winning streak from November 24 to December 3.
- Washington coach Spencer Carbery expressed concern over the team’s inability to maintain momentum, stating, "It’s concerning that we can’t get any traction and we aren’t able to do it for two, three, four, five games."
- The Capitals’ latest loss was a 3-2 defeat to the San Jose Sharks, where they allowed three goals in a 2:46 span of the second period.
- The Florida Panthers are coming off a 9-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes and will be playing their second game in as many nights.
Introduction to the Capitals’ Struggles
The Washington Capitals are searching for consistency in their performance as they prepare to face the Florida Panthers on Saturday. Despite their efforts, the team has not won back-to-back games since a six-game winning streak from November 24 to December 3. This lack of momentum has raised concerns for Washington coach Spencer Carbery, who stated, "By this time, we’re almost at Game 50, so… it’s concerning that we can’t get any traction and we aren’t able to do it for two, three, four, five games." The Capitals’ latest outing was a 3-2 loss to the visiting San Jose Sharks on Thursday, where they allowed three goals in a 2:46 span of the second period.
Analysis of the Capitals’ Latest Loss
The Capitals’ loss to the San Jose Sharks was a disappointing one, as they allowed all three San Jose goals in a short span of the second period. Dylan Strome gave Washington a 1-0 lead with 9:02 left in the middle frame, but his giveaway led to Collin Graf’s goal with 5:07 remaining in the second, giving San Jose a 2-1 lead. Strome acknowledged the team’s mistakes, saying, "Obviously, we make some turnovers. I make a bad play trying to find the open ice and they capitalize, and I think a couple others were just getting hemmed in." The Capitals will look to bounce back from this loss and find a way to maintain momentum in their upcoming games.
Injury Update and Roster News
The Capitals may see the return of Tom Wilson, who has missed six games with a lower-body injury. Wilson leads the team with 22 goals and 42 points in 41 games, and his plus-20 rating is tied for second on the team. His status will be a game-time decision, and the team will be eager to have him back in the lineup. The Capitals will also look to Ryan Leonard, who scored for the team in their latest loss, and Alex Ovechkin, who had an assist in the game.
Florida Panthers’ Recent Performance
The Florida Panthers are coming off a 9-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, a game in which they allowed six goals in the third period and yielded four goals in five short-handed situations. The Panthers have only won five of their past 12 games, going 5-6-1 after a 7-1-0 stretch. Coach Paul Maurice acknowledged the team’s poor performance, saying, "We weren’t right from the start, and we found our way into the penalty box for a real tough third period. We haven’t had one of those in a long time. We got beat. Thank God we play (Saturday)." The Panthers will look to bounce back from this loss and find a way to regain their momentum.
Upcoming Game and Schedule
The Panthers will be playing their second game in as many nights, and they will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing loss to the Hurricanes. The team had been off since Monday, when they defeated the host Buffalo Sabres 4-3. Forward Sam Reinhart acknowledged the importance of the upcoming game, saying, "Everyone’s going through it, especially in the (Eastern Conference). You lose a couple, the world’s ending. You win a couple and you’re right back in it. Everything matters at this time of year. It seems like the fight is going to start a little earlier than normal, so these points are all big." The Panthers will need to be ready to face the Capitals, who are seeking to find consistency in their performance.
https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/following-ugly-loss-panthers-oppose-up-and-down-capitals/
