Flyers-Capitals: Game 4 Preview

The Philadelphia Flyers will need their best effort of the season if they want to extend their series with the Washington Capitals. Game time is 7:00 from the wells Fargo Center. 

 

Washington has dominated special teams play through the first three games and have a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The Capitals power play is operating at just under 50 percent for the series while the penalty kill is a perfect 13 for 13.

 

 

 

Player to Watch
10 Brayden Schenn	74 John Carlson
Last 5 Games: 0G, 1A, 1Pt, +2	Last 5 Games: 3G, 3A, 6Pts, -1

 

Brayden Schenn has been moved back to the top line with Claude Giroux and Wayne Simmonds. It was with these two where Schenn began his goal scoring outburst down the stretch. Schenn has also been one of the better Flyers through the first three games of the series. He has gotten chances, played physical and been fairly good in his own end. 

 

John Carlson is having a tremendous start to his post season. The Capitals defenseman has scored three power play goals through the first three games and added three assists as well. His shots are getting through, the Capitals forwards are providing excellent screens in front and he has been open at the point as the Flyers penalty killers collapse down low. 

 

Goalie Matchup
30 Michal Neuvirth	70 Braden Holtby
0-0-0, 0.00 GAA, 1.00 SV%	3-0-0, 0.67 GAA, .978 SV%

Michal Neuvirth will get the call for Philadelphia tonight. It will be his first start of the playoffs. 

Braden Holtby has been outstanding for Washington. He only faced 19 shots in game one of the series. In games two and three the Flyers combined for 75 shots on goal of which only two have gotten by. The Capitals goaltender is proving why he will probably win the Vezina trophy at the end of the season. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Scratches: Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, R.J. Umberger, Evgeny Medvedev, Jordan Weal, Micheal Del Zotto, 

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
10 Brayden Schenn	28 Claude Giroux	17 Wayne Simmonds
89 Sam Gagner	12 Michael Raffl	93 Jakub Voracek
76 Chris VandeVelde	25 Ryan White	36 Colin McDonald
21 Scott Laughton	52 Nick Cousins	24 Matt Read
Defense
47 Andrew MacDonald	53 Shayne Gostisbehere
32 Mark Streit	55 Nick Schultz
23 Brandon Manning	3 Radko Gudas
Goalie
30 Michal Neuvirth

Colin McDonald enters the lineup for Bellemare who is suspended one game for his hit in the third period of game three. Neuvirth replaces Steve Mason between the pipes

Game Notes

• Power Play: Flyers (16th, 16th at home), Capitals (1st, 1st on road) 
• Penalty Kill: Flyers (16th, 15th at home), Capitals (1st, 1st on road)
• The Flyers have only come from 3-0 down once in a series to win. 

Where to Watch
TV: CSN Philly, NBCSN
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic

Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074.