Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

The Capitals matchup with the Florida Panthers was hectic from the get-go, with presumptive starter Ilya Samsonov not being quite ready for puck drop, requiring Vitek Vanecek to assume the net for the first 1:45 of the first period. After giving up three goals, Samsonov was again relieved by Vanecek. On top of that, the Panthers' Sergei Bobrovsky exited the game after the first period due to an upper body injury.