Stepping into the arena for this morning's optional skate, Ekblad said the Panthers could still feel a bit of the buzz left from their last visit to Washington when they defeated the Capitals in Game 6 of the first round of the playoffs to advance to Round 2 for the first time since 1996.
"It was a battle," Ekblad said of the heated series. "Winning that series here and walking through the dressing room, it's a little bit different, but it still feels good to have those good memories."
Winning four of their last six games, the Panthers split the first two games of their four-game road trip. After securing two points in a 2-1 shootout win at Minnesota on Monday, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said they just "ran out of gas" in a 6-2 loss at St. Louis on Tuesday.
After getting a rest against the Blues, Sergei Bobrovsky will return to the crease against the Capitals. In four starts since the All-Star break, he's posted a 3-1-0 record with a .951 save percentage while turning aside 51 of 55 high-danger shots, according to NaturalStatTrick.com.
In their previous meeting with Washinton this season back on Nov. 15 at FLA Live Arena, Bobrovsky earned first-star honors after stopping 41 of 43 shots between the pipes.
"His game has just taken off," Maurice said of the two-time Vezina Trophy winner. "He looks young. He's getting across the crease fast, his rebound control is right, he's wired and he's finding pucks through screens. He looks like a guy that we remember in his prime."
Exiting in the second period with an undisclosed injury against the Blues, Sam Bennett will not suit up for the Panthers in Washington. In his place, Colin White will slot into the lineup. Expected to fill for Bennett on the second line, Eetu Luostarinen has been on fire as of late.
Having already set new career-highs in goals (13) and points (27) this season, Luostarinen, who's still just 24 years old, has notched three goals and two assists in his last five games.
"He's had the opportunity as of late, but he's someone that can work up and down the lineup pretty seamlessly," Panthers forward Sam Reinhart said. "For him to step into the roles he's had this year, especially the last couple of weeks, has been huge for us kind of turning this around."
After returning from the All-Star break with a 2-1 win at Boston, the Capitals have lost each of their last two games, including a 3-2 loss against the Hurricanes in their last outing on Tuesday.
Tied 2-2 in the second period on goals from T.J. Oshie and Joe Snively, the Capitals fell behind 3-2 when Stefan Noesen lit the lamp for Carolina at 11:38. In the third period, Washington fired of 13 shots but couldn't get anything past Frederik Andersen, who made 34 saves in the win.
Not in the lineup against the Hurricanes, Alexander Ovechkin, who leads the Capitals in goals (32) and points (54), is not expected to take the ice against the Panthers as he is currently on an extended leave of absence from the team following the death of his father earlier this week.
"When it comes to your family and parents, that's what matters," Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette told reporters. "He's going to deal with some things right now, and we're going to be supportive."
Also missing for the Capitals, No. 1 defenseman John Carlson has been out since Dec. 23 after taking a slapshot to the head, while forward Nic Dowd has been out since Jan. 16 with an injury of his own.
In terms of players that are available for Washington against the Panthers, Evgeny Kuznetsov leads the group with 44 points (eight goals, 36 assists), while Dylan Strome is second with 36 points (11 goals, 25 assists), and Conor Sheary is in third with 30 points (12 goals, 18 assists)
Starting seven of the last nine games for the Capitals, Darcy Kuemper has posted a 16-15-4 record with a .915 save percentage this season. During those aforementioned seven starts, the 32-year-old veteran has gone 3-4-0 with a .908 save percentage and one shutout.
Per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti, Kuemper will get the nod for Washington.
"No matter who's in the lineup for them, especially when young guys get a chance to show what they can do, it's always dangerous," Ekblad said of facing the Capitals. "It's going to be a tough competition no matter what they throw at us, and we're ready for anything."
