Bryan McCabe remembers his first NHL game with pure clarity.

``It was Boston in Boston,'' the Panthers defenseman said Thursday, recalling his debut on Oct. 7, 1995. ``I remember being across from Ray Bourque and my legs were shaking during the anthem. I was in the starting lineup. It was a dream come true. I think I had 10 penalty minutes for tripping and hooking and stuff.''

McCabe will play in a milestone game Friday at BankAtlantic Center when the Panthers play host to Washington. For McCabe, it will be his 1,000th regular-season game.

``I'm very blessed to have been able to stick around this long and keep doing something I love,'' he said. ``It's not an easy job.

``You get hit by pucks, hit by a lot of big bodies.''

McCabe becomes the seventh player to reach their 1,000th game in a Florida sweater. The other Panthers to hit 1,000: Lyle Odelein, Greg Adams, Kirk Muller, Mike Foligno, Scott Mellanby and Chris Gratton. McCabe also becomes the 247th player to have played in at least 1,000 games.

``It's an amazing accomplishment,'' said coach Pete DeBoer, who coached against McCabe in the Canadian junior leagues. ``To stay healthy, to be in the best league in the world for that long and to still be playing at the level he is 1,000 games in is an incredible feat. It's definitely worth the recognition he's going to get from us and our fans on Friday night.''

BOOTH RECOVERING

Winger David Booth, who sustained a concussion on Oct. 24, should be cleared to start exercising in the next few days. Booth says he doesn't get headaches anymore and is ready to start working his way back to playing. He said the only exercise he has done since the concussion is a little walking and some swimming.

``I'm anxious because I haven't been doing anything,'' Booth said. ``This is the longest I've ever not done anything. I don't like it. But it's part of the process, and I have to stick with the program.''

• Kamil Kreps didn't skate Thursday after taking a shot off his skate Wednesday. Radek Dvorak (knee) skated before Thursday's practice and could return next week.

OVECHKIN POSSIBLE

Capitals star Alex Ovechkin hurt his left shoulder Sunday and missed Wednesday's game in New Jersey. He skated for the first time since the injury Thursday in Sunrise and said he would probably miss the Capitals next two games -- both against the Panthers. Coach Bruce Boudreau said Ovechkin would skate Friday morning and could possibly play.

``I'm a little sore,'' Ovechkin said. ``I feel a little bit better, but there's still pain. . . . I don't want to disturb my injury. Without the stick, it was better. It's only been a few days, and it doesn't get better right away. I'll probably miss [Friday's] game, and the next one, too. Then we'll see. I hope it's better. I miss it.

``It's not my fantasy to sit in the press box and watch the game with you guys. That's no fun.''

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