Game #74 Preview: Washington Capitals at Philadelphia Flyers

Where: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

When:  March 22, 2011, 7:30 PM

History:           

Caps Record on this Date: 7-7-1-0

Caps Game 74 Record: 17-12-3-2

All-Time vs. PHI: 70-94-19-3

All-Time at PHI: 30-56-6-2

Last Season vs. PHI: 1-2-1

Last Meeting: 1/18/11, WAS 2 PHI 3 (OT)

Season Series: 1-0-2

This Year:

WAS Record: 42-21-10

Standings Points: 94

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 2nd

Last Game: 3/18/11, WAS 3 NJ 0

Streak: Won 1

PHI Record: 44-19-8

Standings Points: 96

Division Rank: 1st

Conference Rank: 1st    

Last Game: 3/19/11, PHI 3 DAL 2 (OT-SO)

Streak: Won 1

Probable Line-Ups:     

Washington

Forward Line 1: 21 LAICH, 19 BACKSTROM, 28 SEMIN

Forward Line 2: 18 STURM, 90 JOHANSSON, 22 KNUBLE

Forward Line 3: 25 CHIMERA, 83 BEAGLE, 26 HENDRICKS

Forward Line 4: 17 KING, 15 GORDON, 10 BRADLEY

Defense Pair 1: 23 HANNAN, 6 WIDEMAN

Defense Pair 2: 27 ALZNER, 74 CARLSON

Defense Pair 3: 55 SCHULTZ, 89 SLOAN

Goalie: 30 NEUVIRTH

Back-up Goalie: 1 VARLAMOV

Philadelphia

Forward Line 1: 15 NODL, 28 GIROUX, 17 CARTER

Forward Line 2: 19 HARTNELL, 48 BRIERE, 22 LEINO

Forward Line 3: 21 VAN RIEMSDYK, 18 RICHARDS, 10 VERSTEEG

Forward Line 4: 13 CARCILLO, 11 BETTS, 36 POWE

Defense Pair 1: 41 MESAROS, 25 CARLE

Defense Pair 2: 44 TIMONEN, 5 COBURN

Defense Pair 3: 24 BOYNTON, 6 O’DONNELL

Goalie: 35 BOBROVSKY

Back-up Goalie: 33 BOUCHER

Injuries:

Washington – 3 POTI (upper body) IR, (upper body) IR, 52 GREEN (head) IR, 8 OVECHKIN (undisclosed) DTD, 44 ARNOTT (undisclosed) DTD, 4 ERSKINE (undisclosed) DTD, 16 FEHR (undisclosed) DTD

PHI – PRONGER (broken hand) DTD, BARTULIS (shoulder) IR, LAPERRIERE (concussion) IR

Caps Milestones:

Jason Arnott needs 2 goals to reach 400 in his career.

Jason Chimera needs 4 goals to reach 100 in his career.

Alex Ovechkin needs 2 goals to reach 300 in his career.

Preview:

First and second place in the East meet on Tuesday but Washington will be without its superstar Alex Ovechkin for the first time this season as he will be sitting due to injury. The report from the Capitals is the All-Star left winger is resting a nagging injury and will be ready to go this weekend. That leaves another depleted line-up as the Capitals take on the Flyers. Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin will have to pick up the offense. Backstrom, who is in his second game back from injury and Semin has been producing below his normal output in the last 5 games will be the focus for the Flyers. Philly is trying to work itself out of a mini slump which has seen them win only 4 of its last 10 games. This should be another low scoring, grinding game. The Caps will need to capitalize on their power play chances and look for some help from the blue line. Dennis Wideman has been putting up points but hasn’t connected for a goal since coming over from Florida. I expect this one to come down to wire so watch for another 1-goal game.

Joe’s prediction: Caps 3 PHI 2

Official Preview