"For the first time since the Washington Capitals added three new players before the NHL trade deadline, Coach Bruce Boudreau had the opportunity to put the team through a lengthy practice, in excess of an hour, in which they worked on breakouts and the power play, among other drills. Boudreau knows the importance of the upcoming set of back-to-back contests against familiar foes Florida and Tampa Bay, where the Capitals have a chance to gain the top spot in the Southeast Division for the first time since December. The games also may show whether Washington is truly beginning to develop consistency late in this roller coaster of a season. "It's time for us to show that we will be ready for the playoffs," Capitals winger Alex Ovechkin said. "This is a huge road trip for us. Right now, our team, we feel good about ourselves after the last three games that we've won, and we want to make sure we can continue that. [Sunday against the Panthers] will be a test, they're a little bit struggling and we have to show we can use that to help us." Washington enters the Sunday-Monday stretch with 80 points and in fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Lightning, which fell to Montreal on Saturday night, has a one-point edge on first place in the Southeast. Before Washington's sixth and final meeting of the regular season against Tampa Bay on Monday comes a game against the still-rebuilding Panthers, whom Boudreau insists the Capitals cannot ignore if they truly want to regain control of the division. The Panthers have lost eight of 10 games. They shipped out a handful of NHL regulars at the trade deadline, including a trio of experienced defensemen in Dennis Wideman (to the Capitals), Bryan McCabe (New York Rangers) and Bryan Allen (Carolina Hurricanes). Boudreau is well versed on the potential and work ethic of a team with young players and call-ups, however. " Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/05/AR2011030503747.html
