Gameday: at Florida, Apr. 9

The Caps knocked off the Panthers 5-2 on Wednesday.

The Washington Capitals are in Sunrise, Florida, this evening to close out their regular season with a game against the Panthers.  The Capitals come into tonight's action with 107 points in their 81 games and have clinched both the Southeast Division and the top seed in the Eastern Conference for the second year in a row. The Panthers come into tonight's action with 70 points in 81 games and are in last place in the Southeast Division and last in the Conference as well.  This will be the sixth and final meeting between these two teams this season; the Capitals won their last meeting on Wednesday 5-2.

Tomas Vokoun is will get the call in the regular season finale for the Panthers. Vokoun, who will be a free agent after this season, has 21 wins, a 2.60 GAA, .921 Save%, and five shutouts this year in 56 games played, and has missed the last week or so with a back injury.  On the injury front, the Panthers will only be missing one regular, and that is top center Stephen Weiss, who has a groin injury and will not play for Peter DeBoer this evening.

For the Caps, Michal Neuvirth is expected to get the nod for his final tuneup to a presume start in game one of the Eastern Conference playoffs next week.  On the year, the rookie Czech has 27 wins, a 2.49 GAA, .914 Save%, and four shutouts in 47 games.  He has also won his last five starts.  Outside the crease, it is a total toss up as to who sits tonight, as the Caps have nothing to gain and will likely rest a number of their regulars.  Caps beat writer Sky Kerstein reported late yesterday that it is not likely that we see Mike Green, and I doubt we will see Alexander Semin either.  Other than that, it is hopeless to guess, so I won't even try.  Ah, Bruce Boudreau.

Puck drops for this one 7:08-ish.  Check back in the morning for updates from the morning skate to see who will, in fact, be suiting up tonight.