Flyers

Flyers-Capitals: Game 18 Preview

By
Kevin Durso
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Kevin Durso Sports Editor

I have been writing for Sports Talk Philly since 2011. Currently editor and lead writer of Philadelphia Flyers coverage. Co-host of the YWT Podcast. I also am Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN-FM in South Jersey. I graduated from Cabrini University in 2014.

All posts by Kevin Durso
Sports Editor

Published13 Nov 2019

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By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor Flyers-Capitals: Game 18 Preview

The Flyers passed a significant test last weekend with back-to-back shootout wins over the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins, both on the road. This week, the schedule doesn't get any easier.

The Flyers will be back on home ice, where they enter play on Wednesday with a 6-1-1 record, but get the task of facing the NHL's best team, the Washington Capitals.

The Capitals just had a six-game winning streak snapped with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday. They are currently on a 12-game points streak.

The Flyers enter with a streak of their own, having won their last four games and earned points in six straight games.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m.

Team Leaders

Philadelphia Flyers GP G A P Washington Capitals GP G A P
Travis Konecny 17 8 11 19 John Carlson 19 8 21 29
Oskar Lindblom 17 8 6 14 Alex Ovechkin 19 13 10 23
Sean Couturier 17 5 8 13 Evgeny Kuznetsov 16 8 10 18
Claude Giroux 17 4 8 12 Jakub Vrana 19 9 8 17
Jake Voracek  17 4 8 12 Tom Wilson 19 8 8 16
 
Player to Watch
23 Oskar Lindblom 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov
Last 5 Games: 1 G, 3 A, 4 P, +3 Last 5 Games: 3 G, 6 A, 9 P, +8
 
The Flyers top line continues to contribute on a regular basis. Oskar Lindblom is a big part, tied for the team lead with eight goals. All three members of this line can be dangerous, but Lindblom's positioning near the net can certainly help against the Capitals, where you may need to get a couple of greasy goals.
 
You could point to several Capitals off to hot starts, but in the last week, Evgeny Kuznetsov has been at the top of the list. Kuznetsov has nine points in the last five games, including three goals over the last two games.
 
Projected Goalie Matchup
79 Carter Hart 70 Braden Holtby
11 GP, 6-3-1, 2.71 GAA, .893 SV% 13 GP, 8-1-3, 3.25 GAA, .898 SV%

Carter Hart saw limited action through the first two periods in Boston, then stole the show in the third with 15 saves. He did not allow a goal in the shootout either, securing another key road win for the Flyers. With three wins in the last week, it is no surprise that Hart gets back in goal to face the NHL's best team.

Braden Holtby hasn't been off to a stellar start by the numbers, but with Washington's lethal offense, he has kept the team in games, getting wins in eight of his 13 appearances. 

Flyers Projected Lineup

Injuries: Nolan Patrick, Scott Laughton

Scratches: Chris Stewart, Robert Hagg

Left Wing Center Right Wing
25 James van Riemsdyk 28 Claude Giroux 49 Joel Farabee
23 Oskar Lindblom 14 Sean Couturier 11 Travis Konecny
81 Carsen Twarynski 13 Kevin Hayes 93 Jake Voracek
10 Andy Andreoff 12 Michael Raffl 18 Tyler Pitlick
Defense    
9 Ivan Provorov 15 Matt Niskanen  
53 Shayne Gostisbehere 61 Justin Braun  
6 Travis Sanheim 5 Phil Myers  
Goalie    
79 Carter Hart 37 Brian Elliott  

Lineup Notes

Given the success the Flyers experienced over the weekend, no changes are expected to the lineup for Wednesday night's game.

Capitals Projected Lineup

Injuries: Carl Hagelin

Scratches: Travis Boyd, Liam O'Brien, Tyler Lewington

Left Wing Center Right Wing
8 Alex Ovechkin 19 Nicklas Backstrom 77 T.J. Oshie
13 Jakub Vrana 92 Evgeny Kuznetsov 43 Tom Wilson
18 Chandler Stephenson 20 Lars Eller 14 Richard Panik
28 Brendan Leipsic 26 Nic Dowd  21 Garnet Hathaway
Defense    
6 Michal Kempny 74 John Carlson  
9 Dmitri Orlov 33 Radko Gudas  
34 Jonas Siegenthaler 3 Nick Jensen  
Goalie    
70 Braden Holtby 30 Ilya Samsonov  

Game Notes

  • Power Play: Flyers (11th), Capitals (7th)
  • Penalty Kill: Flyers (7th), Capitals (6th)
  • Recent History vs. Capitals
    • Jan. 8, 2019 – Capitals 5, Flyers 3 (at WSH)
    • March 6, 2019 – Capitals 5, Flyers 3 (at PHI)
    • March 14, 2019 – Capitals 5, Flyers 2 (at PHI)
    • March 24, 2019 – Capitals 3, Flyers 1 (at WSH)
  • Flyers Leaders vs. Capitals
    • Claude Giroux – 41 GP, 20 G, 20 A, 40 P
    • Jake Voracek – 35 GP, 15 G, 15 A, 30 P
    • Sean Couturier – 29 GP, 6 G, 13 A, 19 P
    • James van Riemsdyk – 30 GP, 8 G, 11 A, 19 P
    • Carter Hart – 1 GP, 0-1-0, 4.00 GAA, .871 SV%
  • Milestone Watch
    • Jake Voracek needs one goal to reach 200 for his career.
    • Kevin Hayes needs four goals to reach 100 for his career.

Where to Watch
TV: NBCSN
Radio: 93.3 WMMR