Time CAPSule - Caps vs. Florida, April 5, 2008

Earlier this season, we posted Alex Ovechkin](https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/early-times-of-the-great-eight/c-311761890) and another Nicklas Backstrom](https://www.nhl.com/capitals/news/backstrom-takes-center-stage/c-313921356). In the process of crafting those stories and talking to the subjects themselves and many others, we were reminded of how exciting and thrilling the 2007-08 NHL season was in these parts.
It stands as Ovechkin's career year, it was Backstrom's rookie year, Bruce Boudreau took over behind the Washington bench on Thanksgiving Day, and the Caps made the playoffs for the first time in five years, winning 15 of 19, 11 of 12 and seven straight at season's end to come back from a dismal 6-14-1 start to win the Southeast Division title.
That season and that run into the playoffs augured in the "Rock The Red" era of hockey in DC, the beginning of 11 playoff appearances in a span of a dozen seasons. At this time a dozen years ago, the Caps were in the midst of that wild run. With the NHL's 2019-20 season "paused" for the foreseeable future, we're going to spend the next month looking back at the day-to-day of that remarkable late-season run, revisiting some of our coverage at the time with some fresh hindsight mixed in. On the off days between games, we will revisit some events from earlier in that landmark season. Enjoy!

Saturday, April, 5, 2008
This is do or die day for the 2007-08 Caps. They're set to host the Florida Panthers in the regular season finale for both teams, and the Panthers are playing for the second time in as many nights. The Panthers have done the Caps a solid, having stunned the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh a night earlier, giving Washington the window of opportunity it needed to take the Southeast crown.
The Caps and Canes come into the final day of the season with 92 points each, but the difference is Carolina is already in the clubhouse. The Canes finished their season with Friday night's 4-3 loss to the Panthers, Florida's first win in Raleigh since 2002. Carolina outshot Florida 46-17 and had nine power plays to none for the Panthers, but the Canes still couldn't get it done.
Florida goaltender Tomas Vokoun stopped 17 of 18 shots before leaving the game with back spasms. Craig Anderson came on in relief and made 26 saves to thwart Carolina, which owned a five-point lead over Washington with six games to go.
Washington needs only a point to claim its first division title since 2001.
"It feels disgusting. We just needed to win two of our last four, and we go 1-3," Carolina left wing Ray Whitney said in the wake of his team's loss to Florida. "How we lost this one, not only is it frustrating and it hurts, but] you hate to sit back and hope you're going to get help. ... We've got to hope [the Panthers] do the same job [Saturday] night as they [did against Carolina]. I doubt they will. Washington's taking care of their business like it means something, and it's just frustrating that we let this one slip away."
Here's our preview of the Caps' season finale against Florida:
\*\*\*\*\*\*
**April 5 vs. Florida Panthers at Verizon Center**
**Time:** 7:00 pm
**TV:**Comcast SportsNet
**Radio:** 3WT 1500AM, 820 AM and 107.7 FM
**Pre-Game:** Pre-Cap podcast on
[www.washingtoncaps.com
at 3 p.m.
Florida Panthers (37-34-9)
Washington Capitals (42-31-8)
With a win or an overtime loss in their regular season finale against the Florida Panthers at Verizon Center on Saturday, the Washington Capitals can earn their first Southeast Division title since 2000-01.
Bruce Boudreau was right. The Caps head coach kept saying that if the Caps took care of business by winning games, something good would happen, and a window would open to give the Caps an opportunity to claim a playoff berth.
"We have to win [Saturday]," he said after the Caps practiced on Friday in preparation for the Panthers' visit. "We win and I've gotta believe - I told the players - people get rewarded for doing good things. You will get rewarded if you continue to play the way you've been playing."
The first part of the reward came in the form of an unlikely 4-3 Florida win at Carolina on Friday night, the Panthers' first win at RBC Center since Dec. 6, 2002. The Cats were 0-14-1 in their previous visits. That game marked the end of the regular season for the Hurricanes, and left the Canes and Caps tied for the Southeast Division lead with 92 points.
If Washington is able to pick up a point or two on Saturday, it will win the Southeast, earn its first playoff berth in five years, and start the playoffs with a home game at Verizon Center. Its possible first-round opponent will come from this group: the New York Rangers, Ottawa, Boston and Philadelphia.
"We've got one more, and then our job is not done," says Boudreau. "It's just what we wanted to do to get to where we want to go. We've got a lot of work to do yet. It's been a good ride, but we want the ride to last a lot longer than just [Saturday]."
One of the reasons the Caps are on the ride to begin with is the team's defense. During the team's current six-game winning streak, it has allowed just 10 goals.
When Boudreau took over, he talked of holding the opposition to two goals per game, believing the Caps would score enough goals to win their fair share of games. In his first 34 games behind the bench, Washington limited its foes to two or fewer goals on just 11 occasions.
In the last 26 games, Washington has achieved its goal of holding the opposition to two or fewer goals 19 times.
"They're really playing the system well," says Boudreau. "You look at our numbers in the last 19 or 20 games, it's as good as any defensive team in the NHL."
In the first 52 games of the 2007-08 season, the Caps were nicked for an average of 3.12 goals per game. In the 29 games since, Washington has allowed just 2.21 goals per contest.
"I think at the beginning [of my tenure] the press had talked about 'they play this run and gun [style],' remembers Boudreau. "I kept saying, 'We will learn to get better.'
"It's easier to be an offensive player than it is to be a defensive player. The checking takes a little bit of time, but they're getting it. They're committing to it because they want to win. I think they realize that if you commit to it as 20 people, it's a lot easier than if four guys on the line are trying it and one guy is not."
A night after the Caps won their sixth straight game and their fifth straight at home - a 4-1 win over the Lightning - a large crowd turned out to watch the Caps practice at Kettler Capitals Iceplex on Friday.
"[We're winning] and I think we play exciting hockey and it's right down to the crunch," says Boudreau. "People in the area are getting into it, and rightfully so because there is an exciting bunch of players in there that really care a lot. They're laying it on the line for them, and they appreciate that."
The Caps' power play unit ranks seventh in the NHL with a conversion rate of 18.8%. Washington's penalty killing outfit ranks 24th in the NHL with a kill rate of 80.6%.
The Panthers put forth a strong effort on Friday in Carolina, doing so in the face of plenty of adversity. Starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun left the game after the first period because of back spasms. Craig Anderson, originally slated to start Saturday's game in Washington, had to come on in relief. He faced a barrage of shots, many of which were launched while the Canes enjoyed a power play.
Florida had nine minor penalties whistled against it, and the Hurricanes were benefactors of two lengthy 5-on-3 manpower advantages. The Panthers had no power plays of their own in the entire game. Two of Carolina's goals came just after the expiration of those two-man advantages, but Radek Dvorak's game-winner came while Florida was shorthanded with just 11.6 seconds remaining in the second period.
For quite a while now, the Panthers' penalty killers have been getting the job done. Prior to Friday's game in Carolina, the Cats had killed off 26 straight opposition power play tries over a span of seven games.
Washington certainly can't afford to look past the Panthers. Florida has dominated the recent history of the two teams, winning eight of the last dozen meetings between the two clubs and posting a record of 17-6-1 in its last two dozen games against the Capitals, dating back to March of 2004.
Last Saturday in Florida, the Caps mathematically eliminated the Panthers from the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Cats would like nothing better than to return the favor on Saturday in the District.
"We're saving some face with the season," Florida defenseman Steve Montador said after Friday's win over Carolina. "We're doing the best we can, in spite of the fact we're not in the playoffs. These games are crucial for other teams, and not necessarily for our playoff picture, but certainly these last two games, we're excited about playing because we're going to have a say in what's to come.
"If you're not dealing with your own fate, it's nice to have a say in somebody else's."
Florida's power play ranks fifth in the league with a 19.1% success rate this season. The Panthers rank 16th in the league in penalty killing with a kill rate of 82.3%.
Fun Fact: Even if he had skipped the Caps first 21 games this season - the portion of the season before Bruce Boudreau took over as Washington's head coach on Nov. 22 - Alex Ovechkin would have 51 goals in 60 games and would be one off the pace for the league lead. Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk has 52 goals and Calgary's Jarome Iginla has 49.
Eleven of Ovechkin's goals this season have been game-winners; only Peter Bondra (13 in 1997-98) has had more game-winning goals in a single season with the Caps. With 163 career goals, Ovechkin ranks 10th on Washington'a all-time franchise list.
Injuries
Florida Panthers
Defenseman Noah Welch underwent shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely.
Defenseman Mike Van Ryn has a wrist injury and is out indefinitely.
Center Garth Murray underwent shoulder surgery and is out indefinitely.
Left wing Richard Zednik has a neck laceration and is out indefinitely.
Washington
Defenseman Shaone Morrisonn has an upper body injury and is week-to-week.
Defenseman Brian Pothier has an upper body injury and is day-to-day.
Center Michael Nylander underwent shoulder surgery and is out 3-6 months.
Right wing Chris Clark has a groin injury and is day-to-day.

Center David Steckel has a broken finger and is day-to-day.
Possible Line Combos and Defensive Pairings
Florida Forwards
10-Booth, 9-Weiss, 16-Horton
12-Jokinen, 15-Stumpel, 14-Dvorak
53-McLean, 54-Kreps, 85-Olesz
18-Peltonen, 11-Campbell, 33-Belak

Florida Defensemen
4-Bouwmeester, 5-Allen
3-Skrastins, 6-Johansson
2-Mezei, 7-Montador
Goaltenders

29-Vokoun, 31-Anderson
Washington Forwards

8-Ovechkin, 19-Backstrom, 25-Kozlov
28-Semin, 91-Fedorov, 24-Cooke
43-Fleischmann, 21-Laich, 14-Fehr
87-Brashear, 15-Gordon, 10-Bradley

Washington Defensemen

55-Schultz, 52-Green
3-Poti, 23-Jurcina
4-Erskine, 44-Eminger

Goaltenders

37-Kolzig, 38-Huet