WASHINGTON -- Getting out-of-town score updates during intermission, the Washington Capitals coasted to a 2-0 loss against the Florida Panthers on Sunday night that had more to do with preparing for the playoffs than winning the regular-season finale.
The Capitals rested several regulars, including T.J. Oshie, Matt Niskanen and Justin Williams, and sat injured defenseman John Carlson for a fourth consecutive game to get ready for the postseason. They learned during the game that they'll face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round, the first playoff meeting between the two franchises.
"They have lots of young guys, lots of speed," Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said. "I think it's gonna be a good series. We just have to play our way and don't give them obviously freedom and be patient."
The Leafs' regulation loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday set up the showdown with the Capitals, who won the Presidents' Trophy as the team with the most points in the NHL and finished the season 11-2-1. Washington largely went through the motions during its meaningless Game 82 as goaltender Braden Holtby stopped 14 of 15 shots in two periods before giving way to backup Philipp Grubauer.
Captain Derek MacKenzie and Denis Malgin scored for Florida, which got a 38-save shutout from James Reimer in Tom Rowe's final game as coach. Rowe will not return behind the bench after replacing Gerard Gallant in November.
"It's not a good feeling, especially with the expectations being as high as they were," Rowe said. "A very disappointing season, obviously, but just talking to the coaches ... to a guy they're going to be better for it next year. Sometimes you've got to take a step backwards."
The Capitals took another step forward, earning into their ninth playoff appearance in 10 years, most notably with their strong play down the stretch after a four-game skid that Daniel Winnik called a "blessing in disguise."
"I think that's what made us play as well as we did down the stretch knowing we had to win games to get the Metro, to get the Presidents' Trophy," said Winnik, who was traded from the Maple Leafs at the 2016 trade deadline. "I think going forward in the playoffs this year we're much more well-prepared for playoff-style hockey."
Playoff-style hockey against Calder Trophy front-runner Auston Matthews and the rookie-laden Maple Leafs could mean up-and-down games with plenty of chances. Washington won two of the teams' three meetings this season, one of them in overtime, most recently winning in Toronto on Tuesday when Holtby said the Capitals figured out they could match the Maple Leafs' speed and skill.
"They're an improving team," coach Barry Trotz said. "They've got a generational player in Matthews and they've got some young guys and they play hard every night and they've got speed. ... They're the young, up-and-coming team and they've played very, very well and deserve to be in the playoffs."
Game 1 is expected to be Thursday night in Washington with Game 2 Saturday before the series shifts to Toronto, which Capitals defenseman Karl Alzner expects to present a "bonkers" atmosphere. The Maple Leafs are in the playoffs for the first time since 2013 and face a major challenge against the deep, experienced Capitals.
"They're big, they're strong, they're fast," Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. "They've been beat a number of times in the playoffs, so they're battle-tested to say the least. And they're as hungry as any team in the National Hockey League and playing as good."
Game notes
The Capitals called up 2009 sixth-round pick Garrett Mitchell to make his NHL debut and also recalled F Chandler Stephenson to play. ... Because of injuries, the Panthers dressed eight defensemen and 10 forwards. ... Rowe said it will be up to president of hockey operations Dale Tallon to decide if Jaromir Jagr is back next season.
UP NEXT
Panthers: Offseason
Capitals: Open the playoffs Thursday at home against Toronto.



Final
Series (Game 3 of 3)

Panthers 2

(35-36-11, 81 pts)

Capitals 0

(55-19-8, 118 pts)






7:00PM,EDT,April 9,2017
Verizon Center, Washington,District of Columbia

1 2 3 T
FLA 0 1 12
WSH 0 0 00
J. Reimer (Panthers - G): Saves: 38, Save Pct.: 1.000
D. MacKenzie (Panthers - C): Goals: 1, Assists: 0
G. Mitchell (Capitals - LW): Goals: 0, Assists: 0





Play-by-play data may not reflect changes made after the game has ended.
Period: All | 1 | 2 | 3

1st Period Summary

Time Team Detail
0:00
Start of 1st period
0:00 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in neutral zone
1:32 Washington Shot missed by Daniel Winnik
2:13 Washington Shot on goal by Brooks Orpik saved by James Reimer
2:14
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
2:14 Florida Derek MacKenzie won faceoff in defensive zone
2:43
Stoppage - Offside (Caused by Panthers)
2:43 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in neutral zone
2:49 Florida Shot on goal by Jaromir Jagr saved by Braden Holtby
2:50
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Braden Holtby)
2:50 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in offensive zone
2:54 Florida Shot on goal by Alexander Petrovic saved by Braden Holtby
3:00 Florida Shot on goal by Michael Matheson saved by Braden Holtby
3:02
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Braden Holtby)
3:02 Washington Evgeny Kuznetsov won faceoff in defensive zone
4:06 Florida Shot missed by Nick Bjugstad
4:12 Florida Shot on goal by Thomas Vanek saved by Braden Holtby
4:15 Florida Shot missed by Keith Yandle
4:31 Washington Shot on goal by Paul Carey saved by James Reimer
4:43 Washington Paul Carey shot blocked by MacKenzie Weegar
4:52 Washington Shot missed by Brooks Orpik
5:54 Washington Shot missed by Jay Beagle
6:28 Florida Shot on goal by Denis Malgin saved by Braden Holtby
6:49 Washington Shot on goal by Nate Schmidt saved by James Reimer
7:27 Washington Shot on goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov saved by James Reimer
7:28
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
7:28
TV timeout
7:28 Washington Lars Eller won faceoff in offensive zone
8:13 Washington Andre Burakovsky shot blocked
8:41 Florida Shot on goal by Michael Matheson saved by Braden Holtby
8:43 Florida Shot missed by Vincent Trocheck
8:44
Stoppage - Puck in Netting (Caused by Vincent Trocheck)
8:44 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in defensive zone
8:51
Stoppage - Icing (Caused by Capitals)
8:51 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in defensive zone
9:32 Washington Shot on goal by Nicklas Backstrom saved by James Reimer
9:42 Florida Shot on goal by Denis Malgin saved by Braden Holtby
9:44
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Braden Holtby)
9:44 Florida Nick Bjugstad won faceoff in offensive zone
11:06 Washington Shot on goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov saved by James Reimer
11:21
Stoppage - Offside (Caused by Capitals)
11:21
TV timeout
11:21 Florida Denis Malgin won faceoff in neutral zone
12:03 Washington Shot on goal by Lars Eller saved by James Reimer
12:05
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
12:05 Washington Jay Beagle won faceoff in offensive zone
12:09 Washington Shot on goal by Taylor Chorney saved by James Reimer
12:11 Washington Shot missed by Jay Beagle
12:23 Washington Shot on goal by Alex Ovechkin saved by James Reimer
12:25
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
12:25 Washington Evgeny Kuznetsov won faceoff in offensive zone
12:46 Washington Shot missed by Tom Wilson
13:35 Washington Shot on goal by Karl Alzner saved by James Reimer
14:27 Florida Keith Yandle shot blocked by Brooks Orpik
15:12 Washington Shot missed by Alex Ovechkin
15:21 Florida Shot on goal by Thomas Vanek saved by Braden Holtby
15:55 Washington Shot on goal by Karl Alzner saved by James Reimer
16:37 Florida Shot missed by Jaromir Jagr
16:46 Washington Shot on goal by Marcus Johansson saved by James Reimer
17:15 Washington Evgeny Kuznetsov credited with hit on Vincent Trocheck in defensive zone
17:35
Stoppage - Icing (Caused by Capitals)
17:35 Florida Washington Capitals won faceoff in offensive zone
17:39 Florida Shot on goal by Florida Panthers saved by Braden Holtby
17:40
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Braden Holtby)
17:40
TV timeout
17:40 Florida Jonathan Marchessault won faceoff in offensive zone
18:26 Florida Shot on goal by Thomas Vanek saved by Braden Holtby
18:30
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Braden Holtby)
18:30 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in defensive zone
19:14 Washington Shot on goal by Alex Ovechkin saved by James Reimer
19:28 Florida Shot on goal by Jonathan Huberdeau saved by Braden Holtby
19:29
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Braden Holtby)
19:29 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in offensive zone
19:59 Florida Shot on goal by Mark Pysyk saved by Braden Holtby
20:00
End of 1st period

2nd Period Summary

Time Team Detail
0:00
Start of 2nd period
0:00 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in neutral zone
1:40 Florida Shot missed by Colton Sceviour
1:54 Florida Shot on goal by Thomas Vanek saved by Braden Holtby
3:07 Washington Shot on goal by Kevin Shattenkirk saved by James Reimer
3:35 Florida Shot on goal by Jonathan Huberdeau saved by Braden Holtby
3:47 Florida Shot on goal by Vincent Trocheck saved by Braden Holtby
3:47
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped
3:47 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in defensive zone
4:11 Washington Shot on goal by Jay Beagle saved by James Reimer
4:22 Washington Dmitry Orlov shot blocked by MacKenzie Weegar
4:25 Florida Penalty to MacKenzie Weegar 2 minutes for Tripping Alex Ovechkin
4:25 Florida Shorthanded - Derek MacKenzie won faceoff in defensive zone
5:26 Washington Power play - Shot missed by Alex Ovechkin
5:57 Florida Shorthanded - Shot missed by Vincent Trocheck
6:24 Washington Power play - Shot missed by Alex Ovechkin
6:56 Florida Jonathan Huberdeau shot blocked by Brooks Orpik
7:38 Florida Shot missed by Nick Bjugstad
7:51 Washington Andre Burakovsky shot blocked by Ian McCoshen
8:31 Florida Shot missed by MacKenzie Weegar
9:40 Washington Evgeny Kuznetsov shot blocked by Alexander Petrovic
9:45 Washington Shot on goal by Brooks Orpik saved by James Reimer
10:07
Stoppage - Puck out of Play
10:07
TV timeout
10:07 Washington Jay Beagle won faceoff in neutral zone
10:21
Stoppage - Offside (Caused by Panthers)
10:21 Florida Derek MacKenzie won faceoff in neutral zone
10:26
Stoppage - Puck in Netting (Caused by Panthers)
10:26 Florida Derek MacKenzie won faceoff in neutral zone
11:06 Washington Shot on goal by Alex Ovechkin saved by James Reimer
11:26 Florida Shorthanded - Thomas Vanek shot blocked by Taylor Chorney
12:22 Washington Shot on goal by Nate Schmidt saved by James Reimer
12:23
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
12:23
TV timeout
12:23 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in defensive zone
13:05 Florida Jonathan Huberdeau shot blocked by Nate Schmidt
13:30 Washington Shot missed by Paul Carey
14:10 Florida Colton Sceviour shot blocked by Brooks Orpik
14:33 Florida Penalty to Reilly Smith 2 minutes for Interference - Goalkeeper Braden Holtby
14:33
TV timeout
14:33 Florida Shorthanded - Derek MacKenzie won faceoff in defensive zone
15:15 Washington Power play - Kevin Shattenkirk shot blocked by Keith Yandle
15:26 Florida Shorthanded - Shot missed by Jonathan Huberdeau
15:47 Florida Shorthanded Goal Scored by Derek MacKenzie assisted by Colton Sceviour
15:47 Washington Power play - Evgeny Kuznetsov won faceoff in neutral zone
16:30 Washington Power play - Shot on goal by Andre Burakovsky saved by James Reimer
16:54 Washington Shot on goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov saved by James Reimer
16:55
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
16:55 Florida Nick Bjugstad won faceoff in defensive zone
17:08
Stoppage - Puck out of Play (Caused by Thomas Vanek)
17:08 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in neutral zone
18:22 Washington Shot on goal by Dmitry Orlov saved by James Reimer
18:23
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
18:23 Florida Derek MacKenzie won faceoff in defensive zone
19:45 Washington Shot on goal by Alex Ovechkin saved by James Reimer
19:45
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
19:45 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in defensive zone
20:00
End of 2nd period

3rd Period Summary

Time Team Detail
0:00
Start of 3rd period
0:00 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in neutral zone
0:40
Stoppage - Icing (Caused by Panthers)
0:40 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in defensive zone
1:10 Washington Shot missed by Dmitry Orlov
1:30 Washington Shot on goal by Marcus Johansson saved by James Reimer
2:05
Stoppage - Icing (Caused by Capitals)
2:05 Florida Nick Bjugstad won faceoff in offensive zone
2:08 Florida Shot missed by Ian McCoshen
3:15 Washington Garrett Mitchell credited with hit on Alexander Petrovic in offensive zone
3:48 Washington Shot on goal by Alex Ovechkin saved by James Reimer
4:02 Florida Shot missed by Vincent Trocheck
5:52 Washington Shot missed by Brooks Orpik
6:23 Florida Shot on goal by Vincent Trocheck saved by Philipp Grubauer
6:25
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by Philipp Grubauer)
6:25
TV timeout
6:25 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in defensive zone
6:38 Washington Shot on goal by Taylor Chorney saved by James Reimer
6:41 Washington Shot missed by Andre Burakovsky
7:28 Washington Shot on goal by Marcus Johansson saved by James Reimer
8:16 Washington Penalty to Tom Wilson 2 minutes for Interference Colton Sceviour
8:16 Florida Power play - Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in offensive zone
8:31 Florida Power play - Shot on goal by Keith Yandle saved by Philipp Grubauer
8:54
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
8:54 Florida Penalty to Jonathan Marchessault 2 minutes for Roughing Lars Eller
8:54 Washington Penalty to Lars Eller 2 minutes for Roughing Jonathan Marchessault
8:54 Washington Shorthanded - Chandler Stephenson won faceoff in neutral zone
9:12
Stoppage - Offside (Caused by Panthers)
9:12 Florida Power play - Nick Bjugstad won faceoff in neutral zone
9:47 Florida Power Play Goal Scored by Denis Malgin assisted by Reilly Smith and Nick Bjugstad
9:47 Washington Nicklas Backstrom won faceoff in neutral zone
9:55 Florida Alexander Petrovic credited with hit on Andre Burakovsky in defensive zone
10:30 Washington Shot on goal by Kevin Shattenkirk saved by James Reimer
10:43 Florida Shot on goal by Jaromir Jagr saved by Philipp Grubauer
10:44 Florida Shot on goal by Jaromir Jagr saved by Philipp Grubauer
11:29 Washington Shot missed by Marcus Johansson
12:45 Washington Shot missed by Nate Schmidt
12:52 Washington Shot on goal by Tom Wilson saved by James Reimer
12:53
Stoppage - Goalie Stopped (Caused by James Reimer)
12:53
TV timeout
12:53 Florida Vincent Trocheck won faceoff in defensive zone
13:48 Washington Shot on goal by Brooks Orpik saved by James Reimer
14:03 Washington Andre Burakovsky shot blocked by Michael Matheson
14:20 Washington Shot missed by Andre Burakovsky
14:27
Stoppage - Icing (Caused by Panthers)
14:27
Panthers timeout
14:27 Florida Denis Malgin won faceoff in defensive zone
15:58 Washington Shot on goal by Evgeny Kuznetsov saved by James Reimer
16:52 Washington Shot missed by Andre Burakovsky
18:02 Washington Shot on goal by Daniel Winnik saved by James Reimer
18:02 Washington Shot on goal by Daniel Winnik saved by James Reimer
18:11 Florida Shot on goal by Jonathan Marchessault saved by Philipp Grubauer
18:22 Florida Jonathan Marchessault shot blocked by Nate Schmidt
19:22 Washington Shot missed by Kevin Shattenkirk
19:51 Florida Shot missed by Derek MacKenzie
19:59 Washington Shot on goal by Lars Eller saved by James Reimer
20:00
End of 3rd period
20:00
End of Game







Player Summary

Florida PanthersTime On IceFaceoffs
Player G A +/- SOG MS BS PN PIM HT TK GV SHF TOT PP SH EV FW FL %
N. Bjugstad C 010021000011813:200:530:0012:274357.1
J. Demers D 000000000001612:390:001:0211:370100.0
J. Huberdeau C 000311000012316:390:381:4314:180000.0
J. Jagr RW000410000002014:440:380:0014:060000.0
J. Kindl D 000000000001611:250:000:0011:250000.0
D. MacKenzie C 101111000102313:560:001:4912:076275.0
D. Malgin C 100300000012016:280:530:0015:351150.0
J. Marchessault C 000200120001815:110:380:0014:3330100.0
M. Matheson D 001111000032727:530:002:5824:550000.0
I. McCoshen D 000001000001612:260:000:0012:260000.0
A. Petrovic D 000101001002525:300:000:0025:300000.0
M. Pysyk D 000101001002417:110:002:5214:190000.0
C. Sceviour C 011010000012518:100:001:5716:130000.0
R. Smith RW010001120002013:440:530:2012:310000.0
V. Trocheck C 000221000002618:260:382:1115:379756.3
T. Vanek LW000300000011813:160:530:0012:230000.0
M. Weegar D 000011121001916:510:530:0015:580000.0
K. Yandle D 001011000002318:110:381:0816:250000.0
Florida Panthers Scratches
PlayerDetail
R. LuongoLower Body Injury
R. BerraPersonal Reasons
J. JokinenUndisclosed
A. BarkovUpper Body
M. SgarbossaScratched
A. EkbladStiff Neck
S. ThorntonScratched
Washington CapitalsTime On IceFaceoffs
Player G A +/- SOG MS BS PN PIM HT TK GV SHF TOT PP SH EV FW FL %
K. Alzner D 000101000001916:540:000:2116:330000.0
N. Backstrom C 000200000101917:422:410:0015:016650.0
J. Beagle C 00-1220000031817:432:440:2114:382528.6
A. Burakovsky LW00-1130000101917:421:190:0016:230000.0
P. Carey C 000200000111412:040:000:1711:470000.0
T. Chorney D 000202000002117:560:000:5517:010000.0
L. Eller C 000210120001813:201:160:1711:471325.0
M. Johansson C 000400000101919:262:410:0016:450000.0
E. Kuznetsov C 00-1401001101920:061:190:0018:474266.7
G. Mitchell LW00000000200138:480:000:008:480100.0
D. Orlov D 000200000002221:031:161:1018:370000.0
B. Orpik D 000313000002318:540:000:1518:390000.0
A. Ovechkin LW00-1530000002017:562:440:0015:120000.0
N. Schmidt D 000202000022120:071:160:2118:300000.0
K. Shattenkirk D 00-1311000212222:222:440:0019:380000.0
C. Stephenson C 00010000000129:150:000:538:221614.3
T. Wilson RW000121122201615:380:000:0015:380000.0
D. Winnik RW000120000001612:460:001:1411:320000.0
Washington Capitals Scratches
PlayerDetail
J. CarlsonLower Body Injury
J. WilliamsRest
B. ConnollyIllness
M. NiskanenRest
T. OshieRest

Goaltending Summary

Florida Panthers Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI PIM
J. Reimer380381.00060:000
Washington Capitals Goaltending
Player SA GA Saves SV% TOI PIM
B. Holtby15114.93340:000
P. Grubauer615.83318:470

* - A player receives a "plus" if he is on the ice when his Club scores an even-strength or shorthand goal. He receives a "minus" if he is on the ice for an even-strength or shorthand goal scored by the opposing Club. The difference in these numbers is considered the player's plus-minus statistic.