Dialogue . . . Caps embark on a Friday/Saturday back to back series against the Florida Panthers tonight.  The Caps have lost three in a row, going 0-1-2 against NY Islanders, Columbus, and New Jersey.  The opportunity is present for the Caps to snap out of this losing stretch facing off against the 5-7-1 Panthers.   The question will be though, can they stay out of the penalty box late in the game and can they put together a full 60 minute effort?  This would have been a better bet for the Caps one week ago, but opposite the Caps, they head into Florida tonight against a Florida team that has strung together three consecutive wins.

So, the 3 keys are simple.

One, stay out of the penalty box, especially late in the game.  Two,  when they do get penalties, the penalty kill unit has to do a much better job.   Coming into the New Jersey game, the Caps were ranked in top 10 in the PK, now they are 20th.  The Caps have a tendency for some really dumb penalties at the most untimely of times.  Third, the Caps have got to funnel energy into the third period.  They need to play a full 60 minute game.  The Caps can score.  Even without Ovechkin.  But they need to do it over three periods.  It would be nice to see this team be late in the third period winning by more than 1 goal.

Schedule Ahead . . . Caps face off against Florida tonight in Florida then come home on Saturday to face Florida again.   The Caps then will get a 3 day rest before facing 3 games in 4 days again, starting at home with the Islanders on Wednesday and Minnesota on Friday, then traveling to New Jersey on Saturday.

Ovie not likely this weekend . . .   Alexander Ovechkin opened up a small bit and said that his ‘upper body strain’, that we are still betting is a shoulder injury, is feeling better, but he will likely not play in either Florida game this weekend.   Ovie did skate with the team yesterday and is ready mentally to get back on the ice.

“I miss it – it is not my thing to sit in the press box and watch the game with you guys,” Ovechkin said. “It is a boring time [watching practice]. Especially when [assistant coaches Bob Woods and Dean Evason] take me and [Eric] Fehr after practice to skate — jesus, I don’t like that. I don’t mind playing 30 minutes, but I don’t like that.”

The good news is — he practiced.

“It’s still a little sore,” he said. “I feel a little bit better, but there is still a little bit [of] pain. From last night to today, I feel much better.

“I don’t want to disturb my injury,” he added. “Without my stick, it’s better.”

As for Ovie and his injury, it can’t hurt to summon higher powers, right?

What’s a hockey-loving owner to do, but pray?  And the good news is that when you’re a bazillionaire, you’ve got some powerful friends.

has some new digs on his head.  The new helmet is meant to protect more against concussions.   Of course, Brendan Morrisonn just thinks Bards is in the CIA.

Nick helps the Salvation Army . . .  Nicklas Backstrom volunteered and helped witht he Saklvation Army’s Grate Patrol Program.

The Grate Patrol van started at The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light facility at 6:30 p.m. and stopped at eight locations in the northwest part of Washington, D.C.    This was a different experience for me, but the people were happy we were there,” said Backstrom, who is the spokesman for the Capitals’ canned food drive at their Nov. 20 game. “We weren’t just there to pass out food, we were there to talk to them and try to help any way we could.”

Game Preview for tonight . . .  From CBS Sports, from Sporting News, from Caps Hockey Analysis,  from Caps Nut,  from NHL.com, from Official Caps site

Down in the System . . .

The Hershey Bears embark on a nasty three game stretch, back to back, to back games this weekend, on the road.  Starts tonight against Portland, on to Manchester Saturday and finishing up at Providence on Sunday.

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