Caps (48-22-11, 107 points) at Panthers (29-40-12, 70 points)
What – Game #82
Where – BankAtlantic Center
When – 7 p.m.
TV – CSN HD
Radio – WFED-1500 AM
The Caps know their seed in the Stanley Cup playoffs. In a few hours they will know their opponent, too. New York’s 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils this afternoon at Madison Square Garden puts all the pressure on the Carolina Hurricanes. Win at home in Raleigh against the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina earns the No. 8 seed and a date with the Caps. Lose and Washington gets an I-95 series with New York.
So let’s talk lineups: We now know – thanks to the Post’s Katie Carrera, WashCaps.com’s Mike Vogel and the Times’ Stephen Whyno, all reporting from Florida – that defenseman Mike Green didn’t make the trip. Wish I had been more on top of that decision. Green and Boudreau both said he would play earlier in the week, but as the days passed more and more qualifiers dropped into conversations. Should have emphasized that more in my reporting yesterday. Anyway, the decision makes sense. Green gets two more legitimate contact practices early next week and the team cuts off at the pass any risk of injury playing in a meaningless game.
“I think it’ll be good to get out there and get that feel back and then have a couple of days to practice and get in better shape for [playoff] games,” Green said yesterday – just a few minutes before learning the team had decided to leave him home. “We’ll see once it comes.”
Expect Michal Neuvirth to start in goal. But a few other skaters will likely get some rest. Boudreau sort of scoffed when I asked if he could give some guys off Saturday, noting his team had the day off on Thursday. But he also wouldn’t commit to rolling out his playoff lineup, either. I’d be surprised, though, if reserve forwards Jay Beagle and D.J. King didn’t dress. And I’d still argue there are plenty of candidates to sit – from Alex Ovechkin and Alex Semin to someone like rookie defenseman John Carlson, who must be feeling some negative affects from playing 81 games in his first full NHL season. With Sean Collins still up one defenseman could rest. Tom Poti (groin) and Dennis Wideman (hematoma) are obviously out along with Green.
“Our choices are we have 25 guys or 28 guys or whatever we’ve got in here,” Boudreau said Friday. “I can use one or all of them.”
So we’ll see tonight. Only Tampa Bay’s spot at No. 5 is secure in the Eastern Conference. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are still fighting for the Atlantic Division title and Boston’s win this afternoon means it could still snag the No. 2 seed from those two clubs. And by 9:30 or so the Caps will know if they are headed to Raleigh or New York next weekend for Games 3 and 4. Given the conflicts with home arenas for Boston and Philadelphia on Wednesday night, that date – April 13 – makes the most sense for Washington to open the Stanley Cup playoffs. Easy travel for the Hurricanes or Rangers. But the NHL will hash that out for sure on Sunday once every regular-season game is complete.
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