Game #14 Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  November 7, 2010 5:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 8-7-0-0

Caps Game 14 Record: 15-15-4-1

All-Time vs. PHI: 69-94-19-1

All-Time home vs. PHI: 39-38-13-0

Last Season vs. PHI: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 1/17/10, WAS 5 PHI 3

This Year:

WAS Record: 9-4-0

Standings Points: 18

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd      

Last Game: 11/5/10, WAS 5 BOS 3

Streak: Win 3

PHI Record: 9-4-1

Standings Points: 19

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st    

Last Game: 11/6/10, PHI 2 NYI 1

Streak: Win 6

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 8 OVECHKIN, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 14 FLEISCHMANN, 21 LAICH, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 15 GORDON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 39 STECKEL, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 4 ERSKINE, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 27 ALZNER, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Philadelphia

Forward Line 1: 21 VAN RIEMSDYK, 18 RICHARDS, 47 WELLWOOD

Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 17 CARTER, 22 LEINO

Forward Line 3: 36 POWE, 28 GIROUX, 93 ZHERDEV

Forward Line 4: 45 SHELLEY, 11 BETTS, 13 CARCILLO

Defense Pair 1: 20 PROGER, 25 CARLE

Defense Pair 2: 44 TIMONEN, 5 COBURN

Defense Pair 3: 41 MESZAROS, 6 O’DONNELL

Goalie: 35 BOBROVSKY

Back-up Goalie: 33 BOUCHER

Injuries:

Washington –1 VARLAMOV (groin) IR, 3 POTI (lower body) IR

PHI – 8 WALKER (hip) IR, 14 LAPERRIERE (concussion) IR, 49 LEIGHTON (back) IR

Caps Milestones:

Nicklas Backstrom needs 3 assists to reach 200 in his career.

Brooks Laich needs 3 points to reach 200 in his career.

Jason Chimera needs 6 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

#1 meets #2 in the Eastern Conference at the Verizon Center on Sunday. Philadelphia needed a late goal to beat the Islanders last night and took the #1 spot in the East from Washington. Washington will try to stop the Flyers 6-game winning streak and extend their own winning streak to 4 games. This should be an intense hockey game. Both teams have talented rosters and a strong dislike for each other. Look for the first period to set the tone for the game with lots of hitting. The Caps have put up good starts the last two games but have had trouble closing. They to button down the mistakes and limit the Flyers chances. I think the key for Washington is to close down the Flyers between the blue lines. They did well against Boston and need to continue the good defensive effort. The game should be tight and I expect a couple of fights but I think the Caps will pull it out in the third.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 4 PHI 2

Capitals Official Preview