Following ugly loss, Panthers oppose up-and-down Capitals

The Washington Capitals are searching for consistency going into their Saturday home game against the Florida Panthers.

The Capitals have not won back-to-back games since a six-game winning streak from Nov. 24-Dec. 3. Their latest outing was a 3-2 loss to the visiting San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

"By this time, we're almost at Game 50, so ... it's concerning that we can't get any traction and we aren't able to do it for two, three, four, five games," Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. "Let's take even a step back from games: two, three, four, five, six periods in a row. It's concerning."

The Capitals allowed all three San Jose goals in a 2:46 span of the second period after Dylan Strome gave Washington a 1-0 lead with 9:02 left in the middle frame.

However, it was Strome's giveaway that led to Collin Graf's goal with 5:07 remaining in the second that gave San Jose a 2-1 lead.

"Obviously, we make some turnovers," Strome said. "I make a bad play trying to find the open ice and they capitalize, and I think a couple others were just getting hemmed in. I think the whole period we were hemmed in."

Ryan Leonard also scored for the Capitals, Alex Ovechkin had an assist and Logan Thompson made 23 saves.

Tom Wilson could be back for Washington on Saturday, but his status will be a game-time decision. He has missed six games with a lower-body injury. Wilson leads the team with 22 goals and 42 points in 41 games. His plus-20 rating is tied for second on the team.

It will be the second of back-to-back games for the Panthers, who are coming off a 9-1 beatdown at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., on Friday.

"We weren't right from the start," Florida coach Paul Maurice said, "and we found our way into the penalty box for a real tough third period. We haven't had one of those in a long time. We got beat. Thank God we play (Saturday)."

The Panthers allowed six goals in the third and yielded four goals in five short-handed situations for the game. They have only won five of their past 12 (5-6-1) immediately after a 7-1-0 stretch.

Defenseman Uvis Balinskis scored the Panthers' only goal on Friday after signing a two-year contract extension earlier in the day.

Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky made 26 saves. The nine goals he allowed were a career high.

The Panthers had been off since Monday, when they defeated the host Buffalo Sabres 4-3.

"Everyone's going through it, especially in the (Eastern Conference)," Florida forward Sam Reinhart said after scoring at Buffalo. "You lose a couple, the world's ending. You win a couple and you're right back in it. Everything matters at this time of year. It seems like the fight is going to start a little earlier than normal, so these points are all big."

The Panthers visited the White House on Thursday in celebration of their second consecutive Stanley Cup win last season.