The road to the Southeast Division title doesn't go to Florida, but the Panthers are figuring heavily into it. Because the Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes last night, Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals now get the opportunity to play for the Southeast Division title on Saturday night, against those very same Panthers in a game that will be televised live on HDNet at 7:00 p.m. ET.

The Caps have been absolutely stellar down the stretch, with Ovechkin leading the way. But he is far from the only reason why Washington has managed the battle their way back into the hunt for the division title. Head coach Bruce Boudreau took over behind the bench after the Caps got off to a rough 6-14-1 start this season, and he's been absolutely masterful in getting the team on track and into contention. And starting netminder Cristobal Huet, acquired from the Montreal Canadiens at the trade deadline for a 2008 second round pick, has provided tremendous stability between the pipes for the still-green Caps.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are relishing the opportunity to play the role of “spoiler” in their final games of the season, while at the same time trying to build some momentum for the 2008-09 season. Check out this critical Southeast Division match-up in brilliant 1080i on HDNet, live at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Capitals to Watch

There is no debate. Alexander Ovechkin is the most exciting player in the National Hockey League. A blazing-fast skater with a lethal slap shot, Ovechkin is also a quite physical player completely unafraid to assert himself physically. Ovechkin has sparked the Caps’ stirring run into playoff contention, scoring 65 goals in 81 games (the first to crack the 60-goal barrier since Mario Lemieux did in 1995-96). Sidney Crosby gets the lion’s share of the attention, perhaps in no small part due to his Canadian heritage, but Ovechkin’s explosive playing style makes him the NHL’s most compelling on-ice personality of the moment.

Rookie playmaker Nicklas Backstrom heard his name called by Ovechkin at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and after staying for another season in his homeland (Sweden) for seasoning, he has made an immediate and dramatic mark during his debut NHL campaign. He’s tallied a team-leading 54 assists, and has gotten appreciably better as the season has progressed. Look for Backstrom to be a point-per-game producer for the next decade-plus, providing Ovechkin with deft feeds on a nightly basis.

Netminder Cristobal Huet has without question had the biggest impact on the Caps this season. Since his arrival in D.C., he’s posted a stellar 10-2 record while stopping well over 93% of the shots he’s faced (.934 SV%). If Huet can put together yet another masterpiece against the Panthers tonight, look for the Caps to surge past the ‘Canes and into the postseason.

Another trade deadline acquisition who hasn’t gotten much attention nonetheless has the potential to make a huge impact. Distinguished Russian veteran Sergei Fedorov remains one of the game’s finest two-way players, and his elite-level skating ability gives him the potential to have a huge impact on tonight’s game. Fedorov was always a tremendously reliable performer for the Red Wings during their heyday in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and he’ll be looking to rediscover that magic tonight and help Ovechkin lead the Caps into the playoffs.

Panthers to Watch

Captain Olli Jokinen is the heart and soul of the Panthers, a potent and versatile center with top-tier goal-scoring ability. He’s lit the lamp 34 times this season, and has been a great mentor to budding power forward Nathan Horton. Jokinen was often rumored to be on the block as the trade deadline approached, but in the end, the Panthers rightly decided that their captain was an essential asset.

Horton hasn’t exactly met expectations yet, but he’s showing clear signs that he’s on the verge of emerging as a top-tier NHLer. He’s scored 62 points in 81 games this season, and more importantly, has posted an impressive plus-15 rating, demonstrating that he is quickly developing into a reliable two-way player.

On the blue line, defenseman Jay Bouwmeester hasn’t exactly met the enormous expectations that accompanied his getting selected with the third overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, but he is still one of the top young rearguards in the NHL. And with 15 goals in 81 games, he is finally starting to assert himself in the offensive end of the ice.

In goal, Tomas Vokoun has provided valuable stability between the pipes in his first season in Florida. But he’s unquestionably been outplayed by back-up Craig Anderson (2.16 GAA, .936 SV%), whose numbers are across-the-board better than Vokoun’s (2.68 GAA, .918 SV%).

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