Panthers at Capitals

PANTHERS (27-24-6) at CAPITALS (28-22-6)

Panthers projected lineup
Anton Lundell -- Aleksander Barkov -- Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe -- Eetu Luostarinen -- Matthew Tkachuk
Ryan Lomberg -- Colin White -- Nick Cousins
Grigori Denisenko
-- Eric Staal -- Givani Smith
Gustav Forsling -- Aaron Ekblad
Marc Staal -- Brandon Montour
Josh Mahura -- Radko Gudas
Sergei Bobrovsky
Spencer Knight
Scratched: Casey Fitzgerald, Chris Tierney
Injured: Anthony Duclair (Achilles), Patric Hornqvist (concussion), Sam Bennett (undisclosed)
Capitals projected lineup
Anthony Mantha -- Evgeny Kuznetsov -- Conor Sheary
Sonny Milano -- Nicklas Backstrom -- Marcus Johansson
Joe Snively
-- Dylan Strome -- T.J. Oshie
Nicolas Aube-Kubel -- Lars Eller -- Garnet Hathaway
Erik Gustafsson -- Trevor van Riemsdyk
Dmitry Orlov -- Nick Jensen
Dylan McIlrath
-- Martin Fehervary
Darcy Kuemper
Charlie Lindgren
Scratched: Alexander Alexeyev, Matt Irwin, Alex Ovechkin, Aliaksei Protas
Injured: Tom Wilson (lower body), Nic Dowd (lower body), John Carlson (head), Carl Hagelin (hip), Connor Brown (knee)
Status report
Bennett, a forward, did not play in the third period of a 6-2 loss at the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday; Panthers coach Paul Maurice said the injury is something Bennett has dealt with in the past and is not a long-term issue. … Bobrovsky will make his fifth start in six games. ... Dowd, a forward, participated in the Capitals morning skate Thursday in a non-contact jersey. … Kuemper will start for the 12th time in 15 games. ... McIlrath was recalled from Hershey of the American Hockey League on Wednesday.