The Flyers are winless in their three games since the All-Star break and will host the Washington Capitals at 7 pm on Thursday night. The Flyers won the only meeting between the two this season 2-1 on goals from Brassard and Couturier. They backstopped by a 20 save performance from Martin Jones. The Caps are 2- 2 since the break and hope to gain ground on the division leaders.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 15-24-9 (39 points, 7th in Metro)
The Flyers have played progressively better in each game after the break, managing to grab a point while losing to the Penguins in overtime. They will face tough odds using a depleted lineup against the Caps. They will be without Hayes, Couturier and Farabee up front. Ellis continues to be out on defense and Ristolainen is day to day.
The Flyers must get a superior penalty killing effort or avoid penalties altogether. They have allowed five power play goals in the last three games. The Caps powerplay has been sleep walking for most of the season, scoring just under 16% with the man advantage, placing them 27th in the league. The Flyers must keep the Capitals’ powerplay sedated, but this has all the hallmarks of a “break out game” for the Captials’ special teams.
If the Flyers negate the Capitals power play, the team will still need a better effort in their own end particularly from the forwards on the third and fourth lines. Willman and MacEwen have been -1 each of the last three games, and both have looked indecisive and hesitant in the defensive end.
Martin Jones will get the start in net and will need to be at his best to give the Flyers a chance to win. Ultimately, it is unlikely the team will have a chance if Jones falters, as I expect Washington to dominate the scoring opportunities and the Flyers to rely on Jones to defuse chances.
Projected Lineup
Lindblom – Giroux – Atkinson
van Riemsdyk – Laughton – Konecny
Willman –Frost – Mayhew
Ratcliffe – Bunnaman – MacEwen
Provorov – Braun
Sanheim – Seeler
Yandle – Connauton
Jones
Washington Capitals
Record: 27-15-9 (63 points, 4th in Metro)
The Capitals have been up and down since the break and will be looking to get their offense in high gear. Beyond the individual greatness of Ovechkin and Carlson, both enjoying point streaks, the Caps’ offensive output may depend on how much they can get from star center Nick Backstrom. Backstrom has played only 18 games so far this season and still looks to be out of sync by his typical standards.
Carlson and Orlov will anchor the Washington defense, look for both of them to play well over 20 minutes but not as a paired unit. Youngster Martin Fehervary has been playing on the top pair with John Carlson and does not look out of place. Orlov has been paired with Nick Jensen, and the tandem top the team in +/- at +17 and +23 respectively.
The Capitals are facing their own key injuries. Anthony Mantha and TJ Oshie will both be out of the lineup. While not leaving the Cap’s weaponless, it is two less snipers to pressure the Flyers defense.
Bottom pair defensemen Justin Schultz left Tuesday’s game with what is officially listed as an upper body injury. Apparently the groin is now part of the upper body. The things guys say to impress the ladies. Schultz is extremely solid and has not yet been ruled out. If he is the Flyers maybe able to exploit his absence.
Projected Lineup
Ovechkin – Kuznetsov – Sheary
Snively – Backstrom – Wilson
McMichael – Eller – Leason
Hagelin – Dowd – Hathaway
Fehervary – Carlson
Orlov – Jensen
Kempny – TVR
Samsonov
When, Where, and How to Watch
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Where: Wells Fargo Center
TV Broadcast: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio Broadcast: 97.5 FM
Live Stream: Fubo TV
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