Flyers-Capitals: Game 18 Preview
The Flyers passed a significant test last weekend with back-to-back shootout wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, both on the road. This week, the schedule doesn't get any easier.
The Flyers will be back on home ice, where they enter play on Wednesday with a 6-1-1 record, but get the task of facing the NHL's best team, the Washington Capitals.
The Capitals just had a six-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. They are currently on a 12-game points streak.
The Flyers enter with a streak of their own, having won their last four games and earned points in six straight games.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
Team Leaders
Philadelphia Flyers | GP | G | A | P | Washington Capitals | GP | G | A | P |
Travis Konecny | 17 | 8 | 11 | 19 | John Carlson | 19 | 8 | 21 | 29 |
Oskar Lindblom | 17 | 8 | 6 | 14 | Alex Ovechkin | 19 | 13 | 10 | 23 |
Sean Couturier | 17 | 5 | 8 | 13 | Evgeny Kuznetsov | 16 | 8 | 10 | 18 |
Claude Giroux | 17 | 4 | 8 | 12 | Jakub Vrana | 19 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
Jake Voracek | 17 | 4 | 8 | 12 | Tom Wilson | 19 | 8 | 8 | 16 |
Player to Watch | |
23 Oskar Lindblom | 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov |
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +3 | Last 5 Games: 3 G, 6 A, 9 P, +8 |
Projected Goalie Matchup | |
79 Carter Hart | 70 Braden Holtby |
11 GP, 6-3-1, 2.71 GAA, .893 SV% | 13 GP, 8-1-3, 3.25 GAA, .898 SV% |
Carter Hart saw limited action through the first two periods in Boston, then stole the show in the third with 15 saves. He did not allow a goal in the shootout either, securing another key road win for the Flyers. With three wins in the last week, it is no surprise that Hart gets back in goal to face the NHL's best team.
Braden Holtby hasn't been off to a stellar start by the numbers, but with Washington's lethal offense, he has kept the team in games, getting wins in eight of his 13 appearances.
Flyers Projected Lineup
Injuries: Nolan Patrick, Scott Laughton
Scratches: Chris Stewart, Robert Hagg
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
25 James van Riemsdyk | 28 Claude Giroux | 49 Joel Farabee |
23 Oskar Lindblom | 14 Sean Couturier | 11 Travis Konecny |
81 Carsen Twarynski | 13 Kevin Hayes | 93 Jake Voracek |
10 Andy Andreoff | 12 Michael Raffl | 18 Tyler Pitlick |
Defense | ||
9 Ivan Provorov | 15 Matt Niskanen | |
53 Shayne Gostisbehere | 61 Justin Braun | |
6 Travis Sanheim | 5 Phil Myers | |
Goalie | ||
79 Carter Hart | 37 Brian Elliott |
Lineup Notes
Given the success the Flyers experienced over the weekend, no changes are expected to the lineup for Wednesday night's game.
Capitals Projected Lineup
Injuries: Carl Hagelin
Scratches: Travis Boyd, Liam O'Brien, Tyler Lewington
Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
8 Alex Ovechkin | 19 Nicklas Backstrom | 77 T.J. Oshie |
13 Jakub Vrana | 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov | 43 Tom Wilson |
18 Chandler Stephenson | 20 Lars Eller | 14 Richard Panik |
28 Brendan Leipsic | 26 Nic Dowd | 21 Garnet Hathaway |
Defense | ||
6 Michal Kempny | 74 John Carlson | |
9 Dmitri Orlov | 33 Radko Gudas | |
34 Jonas Siegenthaler | 3 Nick Jensen | |
Goalie | ||
70 Braden Holtby | 30 Ilya Samsonov |
Game Notes
- Power Play: Flyers (11th), Capitals (7th)
- Penalty Kill: Flyers (7th), Capitals (6th)
- Recent History vs. Capitals
- Jan. 8, 2019 - Capitals 5, Flyers 3 (at WSH)
- March 6, 2019 - Capitals 5, Flyers 3 (at PHI)
- March 14, 2019 - Capitals 5, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
- March 24, 2019 - Capitals 3, Flyers 1 (at WSH)
- Flyers Leaders vs. Capitals
- Claude Giroux - 41 GP, 20 G, 20 A, 40 P
- Jake Voracek - 35 GP, 15 G, 15 A, 30 P
- Sean Couturier - 29 GP, 6 G, 13 A, 19 P
- James van Riemsdyk - 30 GP, 8 G, 11 A, 19 P
- Carter Hart - 1 GP, 0-1-0, 4.00 GAA, .871 SV%
- Milestone Watch
- Jake Voracek needs one goal to reach 200 for his career.
- Kevin Hayes needs four goals to reach 100 for his career.
Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR
Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN and Flyers editor for SportsTalkPhilly.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.