Capitals welcome Panthers to Verizon Center

Hockey Betting Lines

02/27/2007 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Florida Panthers will attempt to continue their recent success against the Washington Capitals when the two Southeast Division members get together tonight at the Verizon Center.

Florida has won 11 of the last 14 matchups between these teams, including the last three encounters. The Panthers have outscored the Capitals by a 17-7 margin during those three most recent wins.

The Panthers currently lead cellar-dwelling Washington by three points in the division standings and are coming off a lopsided home victory. Chris Gratton scored twice and added an assist to lead Florida to a 7-2 rout over the Boston Bruins Saturday at the BankAtlantic Center.

Stephen Weiss had a goal and two assists to help the Panthers end a two-game slide, while Juraj Kolnik finished with three helpers in the win. Ed Belfour turned aside 25 shots in goal for Florida.

Florida's season hasn't lived up to expectations, though, and the club decided to make a move before today's trade deadline by shipping veteran forward Gary Roberts to Pittsburgh.

The Panthers get younger in return, as they received 24-year-old defenseman Noah Welch in the deal. A former second-round pick in 2001, Welch has one goal, one assist and 22 penalty minutes in 22 games with Pittsburgh this season.

Roberts, who had to waive a no-trade clause for the deal to go through, has 13 goals and 16 assists through 50 games so far this season. The 40-year-old was grabbed 12th overall by Calgary in 1984 and has 424 goals and 451 assists in 1,137 career games for 875 points.

Washington has dropped six of its last seven contests and has fallen hopelessly out of the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. As a result, the Capitals were active sellers on the day before the league's trade deadline, shipping left wing Richard Zednik and defenseman Lawrence Nycholat Monday in separate deals.

Zednik was dealt to the New York Islanders for a 2007 second-round draft choice, while Nycholat was traded to Ottawa for minor-league defenseman Andy Hedlund and a sixth-round pick.

Washington just completed a home-and-home weekend series with New Jersey. The Caps posted a surprising 4-2 win at the Meadowlands on Saturday, but the Atlantic-Division leading Devils rebounded with a 3-2 triumph Sunday at the Verizon Center.

Brooks Laich and Alexander Ovechkin had the goals for Washington and Brent Johnson made 26 saves in defeat.

Sunday's loss kicked off a four-game homestand for the Capitals, who are 14-13-5 as the host this season.

Florida is 7-1-1 (1 tie) in its last nine visits to the Verizon Center and earned a 4-1 road victory over Washington last month.

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