The Washington Capitals have a shot at going up 3-1 in the series when they host Game 4 Monday night against the Florida Panthers. Will the Caps bury Florida in a deeper hole? Or will the Panthers tie it all up before the series goes back to their home? Check out our preview below of this Panthers vs. Capitals 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs game.
It’s high time for the Panthers to flex their muscle. It’s time for them to make a big statement after losing in Game 3 on the road, 6-1. They have actually done that in Game 2, dominating Washington for a 5-1 victory at home after losing the series opener, 4-2, so the confidence is definitely still there for Florida’s offense that was so lethal back in the regular season. The Panthers finished the regular season tops in the entire NHL with an average of 4.11 goals for per game – the only team that averaged more than 3.8 a game. Defensively, the Panthers need Sergei Bobrovsky to return to his usual form after allowing a total of 9 goals on 94 shots faced over the first three games of the series. In the regular season, Bobrovsky was first in the league with a 39-7-3 record to go with a 2.67 GAA and .913 SV%.
The Panthers are 16-5 in their last 21 when their opponent scores 5 goals or more in their previous game.
The Capitals are bringing the fight to Florida, shattering expectations against the overall top seed. And Washington is doing it by being physical and being more prolific on the power play. There’s also the impressive play of Ilya Samsonov, who took over the starting gig in Game 3 and rejected 29 of 30 shots he faced. Samsonov could be the one to patrol the crease once again for Washington Monday night, as the Capitals look to ride who’s got the hot hand (or pads). The Capitals have also gone 4/12 on the power play through the first three games of the series, netting two on six attempts in Game 3. The Capitals are being led by veterans like Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, and TJ Oshie, whose collective experience is proving to be so valuable for the team against a Florida team that now finds itself under immense pressure to deliver.
The Caps are 4-1 in their last 5 games as an underdog at home.
