"These days in the Southeast Division the only desirable place to be is first, which catapults a team into third place in the Eastern Conference standings and comes with the luxury of a guaranteed playoff berth.

As the Capitals and Florida Panthers know well, if they're not first, they're jockeying with a pack of teams for positioning in the playoff picture. A point or two gained here or lost there can be the difference in perspective and allows the standings to fluctuate on a nightly basis.

For example, if Washington (58 points) can defeat the Panthers (59 points) Tuesday night it will go from ninth in the East to third. Lose in regulation and the Capitals will trail Florida by three points, fall in overtime or a shootout and it's a two-point deficit, either way they would be outside of a postseason spot. Not to mention the Panthers have a game in hand."