Graphic design: Francisco Oporta & Todd Little

The Florida Panthers (24-19-3) will conclude an up and down six-game road trip when they go for the season-series sweep against the Washington Capitals (24-18-6) tonight in the District of Columbia.

Florida will look to quickly turn the page on last night’s embarrassing 9-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh. After Uvis Balinskis scored his second of the season, from Mackie Samoskevich and Sandis Vilmanis, to tie the tilt early in the second period, Carolina registered eight-straight, including six in the third, to hand the Cats their worst loss of the season. Vilamanis’ assist was his first point in the NHL.

The Capitals have gone a middling 4-4-1 since losing to the Panthers in Sunrise back on December 29. Washington is coming off a 3-2 home ice defeat to the San Jose Sharks on Thursday. Dylan Strome and Ryan Leonard scored the goals and Logan Thompson stopped 23 of 26 shots. Tom Wilson leads the team in goals (22) and scoring with 42 points.

WHEN: 7 p.m. ET

WHERE: Capital One Arena – Washington, DC

ON THE TUBE: Scripps, Monumental Sports Network

ON THE DIAL: 560 WQAM (D/B), Thunder 100.3 (Keys)

SOCIALS: #TimeToHunt, #ALLCAPS, #FLAvsWSH, @LitterBoxCats, LBC FaceBook

ENEMY INTEL: Japers’ Rink

FLA IN SEASON SERIES: Game 3 of 3 (2-0)

LAST MEETING: @FLA 5, WSH 3 (Recap) – 12/29/2025

NEXT MEETING: Playoffs or 2026-27 season

PROJECTED STARTERS: Florida: Tarasov (5-6-2 .904 / 2.81 0SO) Washington: Thompson (17-13-4 .915 / 2.36 2SO)

PLAYER STATS: Florida / Washington

Saturday in the Atlantic (Standings/Panthers Playoff Chances)

Minnesota 5, BUFFALO 4 (OT)

TORONTO (23-16-8 54P) at Winnipeg (19-22-5 43P) 7 p.m.

BOSTON (27-19-2 56P) at Chicago (19-21-7 45P) 8 p.m.

Idle: TBL (62P), DET (62P), MON (59P), OTT (49P)