Schedule / Matchup Preview

Washington Capitals vs Florida Panthers · Matchup Preview Based on 26-27 form — rosters current

Season 26-27
Matchup Preview @ Panthers · WED · FEB 3 · 6:00 PM CT ← Back to schedule
Upcoming
WED · FEB 3 · 6:00 PM CT
Amerant Bank Arena
MNMT · SCRIPPS
Washington Capitals
Capitals
1–1–0
@
Florida Panthers
Panthers
1–0–1
Upcoming
WED · FEB 3 · 6:00 PM CT
MNMT · SCRIPPS
Washington Capitals
Away · Capitals
1–1–0
2 PTS
VS
Puck Drop In
The read
Alex Ovechkin has solved Jacob Markstrom before, 6 goals on 36 shots. But the problem is Sam Reinhart, who has 8 points in his last 4 against the Capitals.
Amerant Bank Arena
Florida Panthers
Home · Panthers
1–0–1
3 PTS
Capitals
GOALIES
Panthers
Logan Thompson
Logan Thompson
Expected
.939 SV% · 2.00 GAA · 1W
.923 SV% L5 · Locked in
VS
Jacob Markstrom
Jacob Markstrom
Likely · 594-jacob-markstrom
.1000 SV% · — GAA · 1W
.899 SV% L5 · Cooling
Capitals
PROJECTED TOP LINES
Panthers
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L1
Brady Tkachuk · Lars Eller · Sam Reinhart
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L2
Carter Verhaeghe · Sam Bennett · Matthew Tkachuk
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L3
Eetu Luostarinen · Anton Lundell · Sandis Vilmanis
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
L4
Bokondji Imama · Sam Lafferty · Garnet Hathaway
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D1
Gustav Forsling · Aaron Ekblad
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D2
Niko Mikkola · Seth Jones
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
D3
Dmitry Kulikov · Radko Gudas
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP1
Brady Tkachuk · Sam Bennett · Sam Reinhart · Seth Jones · Matthew Tkachuk
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PP2
Lars Eller · Anton Lundell · Carter Verhaeghe · Aaron Ekblad · Gustav Forsling
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK1
Lars Eller · Sam Reinhart · Gustav Forsling · Aaron Ekblad
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PK2
Anton Lundell · Eetu Luostarinen · Niko Mikkola · Radko Gudas
CapitalsProjected lines
L1
Alex Tuch · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Tom Wilson
L2
Alex Ovechkin · Dylan Strome · Ryan Leonard
L3
Aliaksei Protas · Ilya Protas · Jordan Kyrou
L4
Boone Jenner · Justin Sourdif · Anthony Beauvillier
D1
Jakob Chychrun · Matt Roy
D2
Cole Hutson · Vincent Desharnais
D3
Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PP1
Tom Wilson · Dylan Strome · Pierre-Luc Dubois · Alex Ovechkin · Jakob Chychrun
PP2
Alex Tuch · Ilya Protas · Ryan Leonard · Cole Hutson · Jordan Kyrou
PK1
Aliaksei Protas · Tom Wilson · Vincent Desharnais · Matt Roy
PK2
Boone Jenner · Alex Tuch · Martin Fehervary · Timothy Liljegren
PanthersProjected lines
L1
Brady Tkachuk · Lars Eller · Sam Reinhart
L2
Carter Verhaeghe · Sam Bennett · Matthew Tkachuk
L3
Eetu Luostarinen · Anton Lundell · Sandis Vilmanis
L4
Bokondji Imama · Sam Lafferty · Garnet Hathaway
D1
Gustav Forsling · Aaron Ekblad
D2
Niko Mikkola · Seth Jones
D3
Dmitry Kulikov · Radko Gudas
PP1
Brady Tkachuk · Sam Bennett · Sam Reinhart · Seth Jones · Matthew Tkachuk
PP2
Lars Eller · Anton Lundell · Carter Verhaeghe · Aaron Ekblad · Gustav Forsling
PK1
Lars Eller · Sam Reinhart · Gustav Forsling · Aaron Ekblad
PK2
Anton Lundell · Eetu Luostarinen · Niko Mikkola · Radko Gudas
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT Jameson Olive · Oct 3 · 4:26 PM CT
Capitals
INJURY REPORT
Panthers
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Gustav Forsling
DAY-TO-DAY · Upper body
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Aleksander Barkov
IR · Left knee · Expected back Oct 27
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
Brad Marchand
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 25
MacKenzie Entwistle
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Jonah Gadjovich
IR · Upper body (surgery) · Expected back Oct 17
CapitalsInjury report
Matt Roy
DAY-TO-DAY · Lower body
Patrick Thomas
IR · Upper body · Expected back Oct 24
Rasmus Sandin
IR · Right knee (surgery) · Expected back Dec 26
PanthersInjury report
Gustav Forsling
DAY-TO-DAY · Upper body
Aleksander Barkov
IR · Left knee · Expected back Oct 27
Brad Marchand
IR · Lower body · Expected back Oct 25
MacKenzie Entwistle
IR · Undisclosed injury · Expected back Oct 10
Jonah Gadjovich
IR · Upper body (surgery) · Expected back Oct 17
Last Game (2026-10-03) · Oct 4 · 6:10 AM CT Jameson Olive · Oct 3 · 4:26 PM CT
STORYLINE
The Capitals lost their last game and are 1-1-0 in their first 2 games. The Panthers lost their last game in overtime and are 1-0-1 in their first 2 games.

Matchup Intel

Alex Ovechkin has solved Jacob Markstrom before, 6 goals on 36 shots. But the problem is Sam Reinhart, who has 8 points in his last 4 against the Capitals.

The Capitals have dropped 10 of the last 13 to Florida, and that history walks in with them. A milestone is in reach for Dmitry Kulikov: 3 more goals for 100 career goals.

The numbers behind it
Matchup
Alex Ovechkin has 6 goals on Jacob Markstrom (36 shots).
(Washington)
6 goals on Jacob Markstrom
Matchup
Jordan Kyrou has 7 goals on Jacob Markstrom (33 shots).
(Washington)
7 goals on Jacob Markstrom
Player
Sam Reinhart has 8 points in his last 4 games against Washington. See the games →
(Florida)
8 pts, last 4 vs WSH
History
Washington has lost 10 of their last 13 against Florida. See the games →
10-3 last 13 vs FLA
Player
Anton Lundell has 7 points in his last 4 games against Washington. See the games →
(Florida)
7 pts, last 4 vs WSH
Milestone
Dmitry Kulikov is 3 goals shy of 100 career goals.
97 career goals