The Washington Capitals are extremely vulnerable to the much improved and now fellow Eastern Conference heavyweight, Florida Panthers, in this particular matchup.

Not only do the Capitals have a lot of rust to shake off, having played once since Jan. 19, but they will be without their two best players, team captain Alex Ovechkin and goalie Braden Holtby.

Ovechkin, tied for second in the league in goals, is suspended for this game by the league because he skipped the All-Star Game. Holtby is being rested after heavy involvement during the All-Star weekend. In addition, the Capitals are likely to be minus third-line center Marcus Johansson due to injury.

Florida enters the matchup on a three-game winning streak outscoring their last foes - Blackhawks, Lightning and Maple Leafs - 14-3. The Panthers have back defenseman Aaron Ekblad. They are 15-0 the past 15 times Ekblad has played.