Flyers at Capitals, Game 82: Notes, Lineups, And How To Watch

With their playoff hopes on life support, the Flyers will have a huge matchup against the Capitals.

This game has major playoff implications for both teams. Each team has won a game in the season series thus far. The Flyers needed overtime, something they desperately have to avoid, to get a 4-3 back in November. Washington cruised to a 5-2 victory last month.

Both teams have something to play for, not an often occurrence in the final game of the season. But the race for the final wild card spot in the East has been a wild one.

Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers do not control their destiny when it comes to making the playoffs. Everything that could have gone wrong for them in Monday's games did. Washington shut out the Bruins in regulation, Pittsburgh doubled up the Predators, and the Red Wings came from behind in an overtime win. This means that to have a fighting chance, the Flyers must beat the Capitals in regulation. That could lead to the ultimate chaotic scenario for Philadelphia. If they are tied late, they would need to pull the goalie to have a fighting chance.

The Flyers will need their top players to step up big-time. Travis Konecny scored the only goal against the Devils to help make sure this game mattered. He has a goal in two straight games and will look to make it a third against Washington. His goal against the Rangers broke a six-game goalless drought. There is no better time for Sean Couturier to come alive offensively. He is in the midst of a 24-game goalless drought and will end with his lowest goal total in a full season since 2015-16.

Sam Ersson bounced back in his last two games, allowing one goal to the Rangers and shutting out the Devils. He has had a heavy workload this season and it has shown at times. He has appeared in 50 games this season, by far the most of his young career. But Philadelphia has stuck with him, not that they've had another choice. They will look to him again to keep their hopes alive.

Flyers Projected Lineup

Tyson Foerster - Ryan Poehling - Travis Konecny

Owen Tippett - Morgan Frost - Bobby Brink

Noah Cates - Sean Couturier - Garnet Hathaway

Joel Farabee - Scott Laughton - Cam Atkinson

Cam York - Travis Sanheim

Nick Seeler - Jamie Drysdale

Egor Zamula - Erik Johnson

Sam Ersson

Washington Capitals

To keep their playoff hopes alive, the Capitals welcomed in Boston and showed them that they meant business. They allowed eight shots through two periods, outshooting the Bruins 25-16 for the game. Charlie Lindgren was solid in the net when called upon as they only needed a John Carlson goal to win. Nic Dowd did add a late empty netter to seal the deal.

The Capitals have looked toward Alex Ovechkin despite a slow start to the season. He had just five goals in his first 30 games. Ovechkin finished the season with 25 goals the rest of the way. Amazingly, he leads Washington with 30 goals, but Dylan Strome is right behind him with 27, the most he has scored in his career. He also recorded a career-high 67 points, a stat he leads Washington in.

The Capitals have split the net between Lindgren and Darcy Kuemper this season. But it's Lindgren who has been in the net recently and he's given his team strong results. He has three wins in his last four games, including the shutout against Boston. Lindgren was in the net for both games against Philadelphia this season. In his second full season as a starting goaltender, Lindgren has a 2.71 GAA and a .910 SV% with six shutouts.

Capitals Projected Lineup

Alex Ovechkin - Connor McMichael - T.J. Oshie

Aliaksei Protas - Dylan Strome - Tom Wilson

Max Pacioretty - Hendrix Lapierre - Sonny Milano

*Beck Malenstyn - Nic Dowd - Nicolas Aube-Kubel

*Game-time decision

Martin Fehervary - John Carlson

Alex Alexeyev - Dylan McIlrath

Trevor van Riemsdyk - Vincent Iorio

When, Where, and How to Watch/Listen:

Time: 7:00

Where: Wells Fargo Center

Watch: NBCSP

Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Live Stream: FuboTV

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