Game #21 Preview: Philadelphia Flyers at Washington Capitals

  

Where: Verizon Center, Washington, DC

When:  November 19, 2010 7:00 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 3-11-1-0

Caps Game 21 Record: 17-11-7-0

All-Time vs. PHI: 70-94-19-1

All-Time home vs. PHI: 40-38-13-0

Last Season vs. PHI: 3-0-1

Last Meeting: 11/7/10, WAS 3 PHI 2 (OT)

This Year:

WAS Record: 14-5-1

Standings Points: 29

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st      

Last Game: 11/18/10, WAS 0 ATL 5

Streak: Loss 1

PHI Record: 12-6-2

Standings Points: 26

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd    

Last Game: 11/18/10, PHI 7 TAM 8

Streak: Loss 2

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

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

Forward Line 2: 21 LAICH, 90 JOHANSSON, 16 FEHR

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 14 FLEISCHMANN 10 BRADLEY

Forward Line 4: 26 HENDRICKS, 39 STECKEL, 15 GORDON

Defense Pair 1: 55 SCHULTZ, 52 GREEN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 4 ERSKINE, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 70 HOLTBY

Philadelphia

Forward Line 1: 15 NODL, 18 RICHARDS, 93 ZHERDEV

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

Forward Line 3: 36 POWE, 28 GIROUX, 48 BRIERE

Forward Line 4: 45 SHELLEY, 11 BETTS, 21 VAN RIEMSDYK

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, 22 KNUBLE (jaw) DTD

PHI – 8 WALKER (hip) IR, 14 LAPERRIERE (concussion) IR, 49 LEIGHTON (back) IR, 13 CARCILLO (knee) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Chimera needs 3 points to reach 200 in his career.

Preview:

The Capitals laid another egg in Atlanta last night but luckily don’t have much time to think about it. They turn right around tonight to face the Philadelphia Flyers in another game of #1 vs. #2 in the East. Both teams are coming off less than impressive efforts so expect a lot of hardworking play with lots of hitting. The last game between the two ended with the Caps winning in overtime and this should be even as well. Look for the Caps to try to Alex Ovechkin started early. He has been scoreless in the last two games and hasn’t been able to make an impact for much of the season. The Caps may be without the services of Mike Knuble who took a puck to face and left the Atlanta game in the second period. I think the game will be incredibly close with the power play being the key to victory.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 PHI 1

Official Preview